No. 5 #Pack9 to Face NC Central Wednesday Afternoon

Wednesday, March 6

Durham, N.C. (Historic Durham Athletic Park)

4 P.M.

NC State

NC Central

Photo by: James Guillory

No. 5 #Pack9 to Face NC Central Wednesday Afternoon

3/5/2019 4:10:00 PM | Baseball

Wolfpack to battle Eagles at Historic Durham Athletic Park

NC STATE – NC CENTRAL
Date: Wednesday, March 6
Location: Durham, N.C.
Site: Historic Durham Athletic Park
Time: 4 p.m.
Radio: WKNC 88.1 FM
Live Stats: SideArm Stats

STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Alec Barger (NCSU) vs. TBA (NCCU)

RALEIGH, N.C. – Off to its best start since 2004, the fifth-ranked NC State baseball team will take on NC Central Wednesday afternoon at the Historic Durham Athletic Park, former home of the Durham Bulls. First pitch has been moved up to 4 p.m. in an effort to play the game during warmer weather.

Radio coverage will be available on WKNC 88.1 FM and on GoPack.com for premium subscribers with Andrew Sanders on the call. There will not be a live stream of the contest unfortunately.

NC State heads into the contest as one of the nation's four remaining unbeaten teams with a perfect 11-0 record. NC Central is in action on Tuesday versus Presbyterian and they own a 5-6 mark.

Last Time Out
In its last outing, the Wolfpack rallied from a three-run deficit heading to the bottom of the ninth to earn its second walkoff win of the season to sweep the series against Minnesota, the preseason favorite in the Big Ten.

Senior Evan Edwards doubled to tie the game and Brad Debo stepped to the plate a few batters later to tally the game-winning hit with a single past the first baseman to score Edwards.

The Series
The Wolfpack leads the all-time series against the Eagles, 6-0.

Last Time Versus NC Central
NC State and NC Central last met during the 2017 season when the Wolfpack earned a 13-0 win to give head coach Elliott Avent his 1,000th career win. The Pack hit four home runs in that contest, including three in the third inning.

The Rundown on NC Central
- NCCU has compiled a 5-6 overall record this season, dropping a 2-1 decision against Lafayette in their most recent outing on Sunday.
- Last season, the Eagles finished the year with a 28-24 overall record and ended fourth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
- Junior shortstop Corey Joyce was the MEAC Player of the Year in 2018, after tallying a .358 batting average to go along with a school-record 15 doubles.
- He was chosen as the 2019 Preseason MEAC Player of the Year and is also listed among the nation's top shortstops by D1Baseball.

Best Start Since 2004
The Wolfpack's 11-0 start to the season matches the best for the program since 2004. With a win on Wednesday, NC State would equal the best start in program history accomplished by the 1992 squad at 12-0.

Edwards Slide Earns #1 on NCAA Baseball Top Plays
Senior Evan Edwards awesome slide to avoid the tag on a play at the plate from last week's game against Campbell has been named the No. 1 play by NCAA Baseball. Despite the throw beating him to the plate, Edwards used a great swim move to avoid the tag and score for the Wolfpack.

What a week in College Baseball, take a look at some of the best! pic.twitter.com/KacCKYms4X
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) March 5, 2019

Entering the D1Baseball, Baseball America Rankings
Following another perfect week to run its record to 11-0, NC State has entered the D1Baseball Rankings at No. 22 and Baseball America at No. 23.

The Wolfpack is now ranked fifth in the Collegiate Baseball Rankings.

Stellar Pitching Staff
With an earned run average (ERA) of 2.36, NC State owns the second-best ERA in the ACC and ranks 13th in the NCAA. Wolfpack pitchers have allowed the third-fewest runs in the conference and have issued the third-fewest walks.