No. 5 #Pack9 to Host Pittsburgh in ACC Opener This Weekend

Opponent: Pittsburgh
Date: Friday – Sunday, March 8 - 10
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Site: Doak Field at Dail Park
Times: 12 p.m. (Fri.), 2 p.m. (Sat.), 1 p.m. (Sun.) - NOTE: Friday's game has been moved to noon
TV: ACC Network Extra
Radio: WKNC 88.1 FM
Live Stats

FREE Virtual Parking Permit Registration for Friday's Game

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Christian Camacho (PITT) vs. RHP Jason Parker (NCSU)
Saturday: RHP Dan Hammer (PITT) vs. LHP Canaan Silver (NCSU)
Sunday: TBA (PITT) vs. TBA (NCSU)

*Team rankings reflect the highest in the polls...NC State (#5 Collegiate Baseball Poll)*

RALEIGH, N.C. – Following a 12-0 start to the season, matching the best in program history, the 5th-ranked NC State baseball team will open Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play this weekend by hosting the Pittsburgh Panthers. Friday's game is set for 12 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday's games are slated for 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, at Doak Field at Dail Park.

All three games will be broadcast live on the ACC Network Extra, accessible through Watch ESPN and the Watch ESPN App. Radio coverage will also be available on WKNC 88.1 FM and on GoPack.com for premium subscribers.

NC State heads into the weekend as one of the nation's four unbeaten teams at 12-0, while Pitt is 6-4.

Game Promotions
Decade's Weekend

Friday, March 8 at 12 p.m.
Celebrate the 1970's at the Doak and 70's Baseball Trivia!

Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m.
Boogie to the 80's with us and enjoy games themed around that era!

Sunday, March 10 at 1 p.m.
Take it back to the #PACK90's with games, music and more!
Giveaway: Light-Up Red Yo-Yos (400)
Sunday Funday at the Doak!

Last Time Out
In its last outing, the Wolfpack rallied from an early seven-run deficit to record an 11-10 come-from-behind win against NC Central on Wednesday evening at the Durham Athletic Park. The Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead and later extended it to 8-1, but the Wolfpack continued to fight and showed a ton of poise despite trailing.

A three-run eighth inning knotted the game at eighth before NC State scored two runs in the top of the ninth to pull ahead, 10-8. Sophomore Patrick Bailey led off the 10th with a solo home run to right field and that proved to be the difference.

The Series
NC State and Pitt have met seven times in the history of the programs, with the Wolfpack leading the all-time series, 6-1. The Pack has won all six meetings between the teams as ACC opponents.

Last Time Versus Pitt
The Wolfpack swept the series held in Pittsburgh the last time the teams met during the 2017 season. NC State opened the three-game set with a 7-4 win before earning an 8-6 win in game two and a 14-6 victory in the series finale.

Then-freshman Brad Debo led the Wolfpack in that series, as he was 7-for-14 with four RBI, three doubles, three runs and a home run.

Last Time Versus Pitt at Doak Field
Pitt last traveled to Raleigh in 2015, when NC State swept the series. Andrew Knizner was red-hot at the plate in that series, as he led the Pack with a .714 batting average in the three-game set with 10 hits in 14 at-bats.

The Rundown on Pitt
- Pittsburgh is in its first season under new head coach Mike Bell.
- Last season, the Panthers were 29-26 and they advanced to the semifinals of the 2018 ACC Championships thanks to wins against Georgia Tech and UNC-Chapel Hill.
- Pitt returns six position players from last season and one of its weekend starters.
- NC State and Pitt share a common opponent in the Bucknell Bison, as the Panthers earned an 8-2 win against the squad and the Wolfpack swept Bucknell in the season-opening series.
- Saturday starter Dan Hammer leads the ACC in strikeouts with 29.

Best Start Since 1992
The Wolfpack's 12-0 start to the season matches the best in program history, achieved by the 1992 squad.

Season High in Strikeouts
In Wednesday's game against NC Central, Wolfpack pitchers struck out a season-high 15 batters. NC State's pitching staff fanned at least one batter in each of the 10 innings, with the exception of the second inning.

NCSU's 15 strikeouts is tied for the third most in a single game by an ACC pitching staff this season.

Double Trouble
The Wolfpack hit six doubles in yesterday's win against the Eagles, which are tied for the second most in a single game by an ACC team this season.

NC State last hit six or more doubles in a game in 2017, when the Pack completed the sweep at Pitt. Junior Will Wilson had three doubles in yesterday's game to move into a tie for first place in the ACC individual rankings with seven on the year.

The Pack's 26 doubles as a team is tied for the second-highest total in the conference. In 2017, NC State led the ACC and finished sixth in the NCAA with 140 doubles.

Getting on Base
Jonny Butler, Patrick Bailey, Evan Edwards and Tyler McDonough have all reached base safely in every game this season.

Making a Call to the Bullpen
The Wolfpack's bullpen has been lights out this season, as relievers have compiled a 2.30 ERA and have collected 77 strikeouts in 70.1 innings. NC State relievers have accounted for nine of the teams 12 wins.

In contrast, opposing teams' bullpens have charted a 6.87 ERA and have yielded 51 runs in 57.2 innings.

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.

No. 5 #Pack9 to Host Pittsburgh in ACC Opener This Weekend

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Players Mentioned

Patrick Bailey

Jonny Butler

Brad Debo

Evan Edwards

Tyler McDonough

Jason Parker

Canaan Silver

Will Wilson