Wednesday, March 15
Raleigh, N.C.
3 PM
NC State
10-8
7
vs
3
George Mason
6-11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
George Mason
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
6
2
NC State
5
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
X
7
7
0
Photo by: Alexis Baird
Five-Run First Inning Leads NC State Baseball Past George Mason, 7-3
3/15/2017 7:21:00 PM | Baseball
Junior Joe Dunand hits team-leading fifth home run, a grand slam in first inning
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State baseball team used a five-run first inning to earn a 7-3 win against the George Mason Patriots Wednesday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park.
The Wolfpack improves to 10-8 on the year, while the Patriots fall to 6-11. Junior Evan Brabrand picked up the win for NC State, his first of the season, with 3.2 innings pitched in relief, while Bryce Nightengale was hit with the loss (0-2) for George Mason.
Game Recap
After George Mason plated a run in the top of the first, NC State responded with a big inning in the bottom of the frame. Josh McLain led off with a double down the left field line and Will Wilson followed with a single through the left side to put runners at first and third.
Brett Kinneman walked to load the bases and Evan Mendoza reached on an infield single to score McLain from third, knotting the score at one apiece. Joe Dunand stepped to the plate next and crushed his team-leading fifth home run, a grand slam over the left field wall as NC State took a 5-1 lead.
The Wolfpack tacked on a run in the second inning after an RBI single to left field by Christian Demby, scoring Kinneman who singled earlier in the frame to make it 6-1.
A two-run homer by John Callahan helped George Mason trim the NC State lead to 6-3 in the top of the fourth, but that would be the final run for the Patriots.
Brabrand and Michael Bienlien were terrific in relief of Wolfpack starter Cory Wilder, neutralizing the Patriots bats to just six hits.
NC State pushed the score to 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an error by the George Mason shortstop that allowed McLain to score from third base, as Wilson bluffed stealing second base and the shortstop could not handle the throw from the catcher attempting to get Wilson.
Inside the Box Score
- Mendoza turned in the only mult-hit outing in the contest, as he was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Dunand, Demby, Kinneman, McLain and Wilson each had one hit for the Pack.
- McLain also had a pair of stolen bases in the game, as he took second in the sixth inning and stole third a few pitches later.
On the Mound
- Brabrand entered the game with the bases loaded in the first inning for NC State and wiggled out of trouble with only one run scoring. His 3.2 innings pitched were a career long.
- Bienlien took over after Brabrand and he logged a career-long outing, throwing 4.2 shutout innings with a career-best six strikeouts.
- Kent Klyman entered the game to face one batter in the ninth and induced a ground ball to Shane Shepard at first to end the game.
Game Notes
- Wednesday's game was the 28th meeting between the programs, as NC State now leads the all-time series, 24-4.
- NC State did commit in error for the seventh time this season and is now 6-1 on the year when not having a defensive miscue.
- Wilson had a hit in the game and has tallied a hit in 12 of the last 13 games, as he had his 11-game hitting streak end yesterday against Elon.
Up Next
NC State returns to action this weekend when it hosts Miami in its ACC home opener. Friday and Saturday's games are slated for 6:30 p.m., while Sunday's game will begin at noon.
#STATEMENT
The Wolfpack improves to 10-8 on the year, while the Patriots fall to 6-11. Junior Evan Brabrand picked up the win for NC State, his first of the season, with 3.2 innings pitched in relief, while Bryce Nightengale was hit with the loss (0-2) for George Mason.
Game Recap
After George Mason plated a run in the top of the first, NC State responded with a big inning in the bottom of the frame. Josh McLain led off with a double down the left field line and Will Wilson followed with a single through the left side to put runners at first and third.
Brett Kinneman walked to load the bases and Evan Mendoza reached on an infield single to score McLain from third, knotting the score at one apiece. Joe Dunand stepped to the plate next and crushed his team-leading fifth home run, a grand slam over the left field wall as NC State took a 5-1 lead.
The Wolfpack tacked on a run in the second inning after an RBI single to left field by Christian Demby, scoring Kinneman who singled earlier in the frame to make it 6-1.
A two-run homer by John Callahan helped George Mason trim the NC State lead to 6-3 in the top of the fourth, but that would be the final run for the Patriots.
Brabrand and Michael Bienlien were terrific in relief of Wolfpack starter Cory Wilder, neutralizing the Patriots bats to just six hits.
NC State pushed the score to 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an error by the George Mason shortstop that allowed McLain to score from third base, as Wilson bluffed stealing second base and the shortstop could not handle the throw from the catcher attempting to get Wilson.
Inside the Box Score
- Mendoza turned in the only mult-hit outing in the contest, as he was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Dunand, Demby, Kinneman, McLain and Wilson each had one hit for the Pack.
- McLain also had a pair of stolen bases in the game, as he took second in the sixth inning and stole third a few pitches later.
On the Mound
- Brabrand entered the game with the bases loaded in the first inning for NC State and wiggled out of trouble with only one run scoring. His 3.2 innings pitched were a career long.
- Bienlien took over after Brabrand and he logged a career-long outing, throwing 4.2 shutout innings with a career-best six strikeouts.
- Kent Klyman entered the game to face one batter in the ninth and induced a ground ball to Shane Shepard at first to end the game.
Game Notes
- Wednesday's game was the 28th meeting between the programs, as NC State now leads the all-time series, 24-4.
- NC State did commit in error for the seventh time this season and is now 6-1 on the year when not having a defensive miscue.
- Wilson had a hit in the game and has tallied a hit in 12 of the last 13 games, as he had his 11-game hitting streak end yesterday against Elon.
Up Next
NC State returns to action this weekend when it hosts Miami in its ACC home opener. Friday and Saturday's games are slated for 6:30 p.m., while Sunday's game will begin at noon.
#STATEMENT
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brabrand, Evan (1-0)
L: Bryce Nightengale (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Logan Driscoll 1
3B: Greg Popatak 1
HR: John Callahan 1
RBI: Tyler Nelin 1 ; John Callahan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Michael Smith 1 ; APONTE, A. 1 ; John Callahan 1
SB: Michael Smith 1 ; Frank Sturek 1
HBP: Frank Sturek 1 ; Tyler Nelin 1 ; John Callahan 1
Batting:
2B: McLain, Josh 1
HR: Dunand, Joe 1
RBI: Mendoza, Evan 1 ; Dunand, Joe 4 ; Demby, Christian 1
SH: Deatherage, Brock 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McLain, Josh 2 ; Wilson, Will 1 ; Kinneman, Brett 2 ; Mendoza, Evan 1 ; Dunand, Joe 1
SB: McLain, Josh 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballCF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballAuburn Regional Preview: Elliott Avent on ACC PM
Thursday, May 29
Game Three Press Conference: Athens Super Regional
Tuesday, June 11
Game Two Press Conference: Athens Super Regional
Sunday, June 09
Game One Press Conference - Athens Super Regional
Saturday, June 08