North Carolina State University Athletics
Baseball Downs Campbell, 7-3
5/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. Marcus Jones went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and six Wolfpack hurlers combined for a three-hitter as NC State topped Campbell, 7-3, on Saturday, May 5, at Doak Field at Dail Park. Nate Karns (3-2) grabbed the victory, while Quinn Lesage (1-8) took the loss. With the win the Pack moves to 31-16 on the season, while the Camels fall to 10-38. The decision marks the 17th time on the year that the Wolfpack has held an opponent to six hits or less.
Ryan Pond gave State an early lead with a two RBI double in the bottom of the first. Dallas Poulk led off with an infield base hit towards first, and Ramon Corona followed with a double that banged off of the top of the wall in left-center. Pond came up next, scoring both base runners on a screamer down the left field line.
Campbell threatened in the top of the second, but couldn’t produce any runs. Brandon Scott drew a walk, stole second and took third on a Jacob Allen ground out, but Mike Causey sent a roller to Poulk at second to end the inning.
The Wolfpack increased its lead to 4-0 with three hits in the bottom of the second. Jones grabbed a one-out chop single towards short, and then moved to second when Pat Ferguson watched four balls. Matt Payne then loaded the bases with another high chopper to short, but Poulk sent a fielder’s choice to first and Jones was forced out at the plate. Corona then bounced a two-out base hit into left, brining Ferguson and Payne around to score.
Ryan Hamme led off the top of the fourth by crushing a Karns pitch into right-center, but Jones chased the ball down from center and made a sensational grab, colliding with the wall and hanging on to the ball to secure the first out of the inning. Hamme’s fly out was the only hard hit pitch of the inning, as Scott grounded out to second and Robb Meng went down swinging.
Poulk added another run for NC State with a two-out triple down the right field line in the bottom of the fourth.
Jeff Stallings took over on the hill for Karns as Campbell came to bat in the top of the fifth. Karns issued three walks and didn’t allow a single hit against 14 batters faced, while Stallings sat down the Camels in order.
Stallings made way for Jimmy Gillheeney in the top of the sixth, and Campbell went down one-two-three again.
Jones drilled a solo-shot to center in the bottom of the sixth, inching the lead to 6-0.
Campbell grabbed its first hit of the ball game, a Rob Lyerly single through the right side, off of Kyle Rutter in the top of the seventh.
The Camels finally got on board with three runs in the top of the eighth. Ryan Howard misplayed a Daniel Smith grounder to first that allowed two runs to come in. Smith then scored when Hamme followed with a double to right. Hamme, however, was gunned down at third to end the inning attempting to leg out a triple.
State moved the lead to 7-3 with an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Kenny Ford led off with a walk, and Wade Moore took his place at first. Jones then doubled to left-center, scoring Moore.
Eryk McConnell shut the door on Campbell in the ninth, keeping the Camels from reaching base.
NC State returns to the diamond on Wednesday, May 9, at UNC Wilmington with a 7 p.m. contest.
Ryan Pond gave State an early lead with a two RBI double in the bottom of the first. Dallas Poulk led off with an infield base hit towards first, and Ramon Corona followed with a double that banged off of the top of the wall in left-center. Pond came up next, scoring both base runners on a screamer down the left field line.
Campbell threatened in the top of the second, but couldn’t produce any runs. Brandon Scott drew a walk, stole second and took third on a Jacob Allen ground out, but Mike Causey sent a roller to Poulk at second to end the inning.
The Wolfpack increased its lead to 4-0 with three hits in the bottom of the second. Jones grabbed a one-out chop single towards short, and then moved to second when Pat Ferguson watched four balls. Matt Payne then loaded the bases with another high chopper to short, but Poulk sent a fielder’s choice to first and Jones was forced out at the plate. Corona then bounced a two-out base hit into left, brining Ferguson and Payne around to score.
Ryan Hamme led off the top of the fourth by crushing a Karns pitch into right-center, but Jones chased the ball down from center and made a sensational grab, colliding with the wall and hanging on to the ball to secure the first out of the inning. Hamme’s fly out was the only hard hit pitch of the inning, as Scott grounded out to second and Robb Meng went down swinging.
Poulk added another run for NC State with a two-out triple down the right field line in the bottom of the fourth.
Jeff Stallings took over on the hill for Karns as Campbell came to bat in the top of the fifth. Karns issued three walks and didn’t allow a single hit against 14 batters faced, while Stallings sat down the Camels in order.
Stallings made way for Jimmy Gillheeney in the top of the sixth, and Campbell went down one-two-three again.
Jones drilled a solo-shot to center in the bottom of the sixth, inching the lead to 6-0.
Campbell grabbed its first hit of the ball game, a Rob Lyerly single through the right side, off of Kyle Rutter in the top of the seventh.
The Camels finally got on board with three runs in the top of the eighth. Ryan Howard misplayed a Daniel Smith grounder to first that allowed two runs to come in. Smith then scored when Hamme followed with a double to right. Hamme, however, was gunned down at third to end the inning attempting to leg out a triple.
State moved the lead to 7-3 with an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Kenny Ford led off with a walk, and Wade Moore took his place at first. Jones then doubled to left-center, scoring Moore.
Eryk McConnell shut the door on Campbell in the ninth, keeping the Camels from reaching base.
NC State returns to the diamond on Wednesday, May 9, at UNC Wilmington with a 7 p.m. contest.
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