NC State
26-9, 10-5
Georgia Tech
23-11, 7-9
No. 12 Pack Wins Eighth-Straight, Clinches at Georgia Tech
4/16/2016 8:03:00 PM | Baseball
NC State baseball routs No. 19 Georgia Tech 15-6 to clinch the series
The Wolfpack (26-9, 10-5) had 11 different players contribute at least one hit, including three by Stephen Pitarra in the first three innings, to storm out to an 8-0 lead after two. Georgia Tech (23-11, 7-9) clawed its way onto the board with two in the fifth, three in the sixth, and one in the seventh, closing the gap to 13-6. NC State tacked on two in the last two frames to set the final 15-6.
Pitarra finished 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI. Evan Mendoza extended his team-leading hitting streak to nine games with a 2-for-5 showing including two RBIs and a run. Josh McLain went 3-for-5 with three runs, two RBIs, and his 14th double of the year. Preston Palmeiro contributed his 16th in a 1-for-3 day with three runs and two RBIs.
Andrew Knizner scored three times in a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI and two walks. Joe Dunand drove in three. Brock Deatherage scored three times in a 1-for-1 afternoon with a walk. Jack Conley made his debut and collected his first collegiate hit and an RBI after being hit by pitch with the bases loaded.
Wolfpack starter Brian Brown (4-1) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, finishing with six earned on seven hits and three walks over six, striking out three. Chris Williams earned his first save of the year in three innings of two-hit ball, striking out a pair and walking none.
For Elliott Avent, it's the ninth win in his last 10 games against Georgia Tech, and five in a row at Russ Chandler Stadium.
NC State returns to action Sunday at 1 PM for the series finale on ESPN3. Radio duties will be handled by 88.1 WKNC. Fans can follow along with live stats on GoPack.com, or Twitter updates via @NCStateBaseball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brown, Brian (4-1)
L: Dulaney, B (1-2)
S: Williams, Chris (1)
Batting:
2B: McLain, Josh 1 ; Palmeiro, Preston 1
RBI: Pitarra, Stephen 1 ; McLain, Josh 2 ; Knizner, Andrew 1 ; Palmeiro, Preston 2 ; Dunand, Joe 3 ; Kinneman, Brett 1 ; Conley, Jack 1 ; Mendoza, Evan 2
SH: Deatherage, Brock 1
SF: Knizner, Andrew 1 ; Dunand, Joe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pitarra, Stephen 1 ; McLain, Josh 3 ; Knizner, Andrew 3 ; Palmeiro, Preston 3 ; Shepard, Chance 1 ; Deatherage, Brock 3 ; Mendoza, Evan 1
SB: Deatherage, Brock 1
CS: Mendoza, Evan 1
HBP: McLain, Josh 1 ; Conley, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Craport, T 1
HR: Stallings, B 1
RBI: Wruble, G 1 ; Stallings, B 3 ; Peurifoy, R 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Justus, C 1 ; Wruble, G 1 ; Stallings, B 1 ; Gold, B 1 ; Craport, T 2
PO: Peurifoy, R 1
