#Pack9 Pounds Nova, 14-5

Feb. 13, 2015

Box Score | Box Score  | Cumulative Statistics 

	*1   *	*2  *	*3   *	*4   *	*5   *	*6   *	*7   *	*8   *	*9   *	R	H	E
VILLANOVA	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	2	5	8	*2  *
NC STATE	5	5	1	0	0	2	0	1	X	14	*13 *	2

NC State baseball opened its season with a decisive 14-5 win over Villanova on Friday at Doak Field at Dail Park, racing ahead 10-0 over the first two innings.

The first five batters of the first reached for the Wolfpack (1-0), amounting to a 5-0 lead. State tacked on five more in the second, and another in the third to make it 11-0. Two more in the sixth made it 13-0, before Villanova (0-1) chipped away with three in the seventh. The Pack answered in the eighth, and the Wildcats added two in the ninth to set the final at 14-5.

Preston Palmeiro's first collegiate homer was the story, a three-run bomb that finished halfway up the trees in right. The charge made it 10-0 with nobody out in the second, essentially sealing the outcome. Palmeiro finished 2-for-3 with two runs and a career-high four RBIs.

Jake Armstrong and Joe Dunand each contributed a triple in the bottom first. Armstrong would go on to finish the contest 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a pair of runs. Andrew Knizner scored three times in a 2-for-3 outing with two RBIs. Logan Ratledge played DH and led off, going 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Ryne Willard debuted at short with a 2-for-5 performance including two runs and a walk.

Cory Wilder (1-0) shut out the Wildcats for five innings of two-hit ball, allowing three walk and fanning five. Curt Britt was the next out of the pen, working two innings with three strikeouts. Will Gilbert pitched a perfect eighth. Evan Brabrand struck out one during the ninth.

In the bottom first, Ratledge knocked the first pitch of the year into left to spark the Pack's five-run rally. Willard walked being him, setting up Knizner's RBI single through the left side. Armstrong cleared the bases next with a 2-RBI triple to the wall in right. Palmeiro singled to second to plate Armstrong. Dunand finished the rally with a triple to the wall in center, making it 5-0.

Ratledge started another run in the second with his leadoff walk. Willard legged out a bunt single to set the table. Knizner cashed in again, driving an RBI single through the left side. Armstrong's RBI single to left scored Willard. With two on, Palmeiro crushed his 3-run shot to right, extending the lead to 10-0.

NC State returns to action on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Davidson. Appalachian State will meet Villanova at Doak Field at Dail Park at 11 a.m. Sunday's games have been cancelled due to impending weather.

NC State's Saturday game will stream on GoPack All-Access, 88.1 WKNC will handle radio duties, and fans can follow along with Twitter updates from @NCStateBaseball.

Next Event

Team Stats

Logan Ratledge

Ryne Willard

Andrew Knizner

Jake Armstrong