NC State
13-0, 1-0
Pittsburgh
6-5, 0-1
#STATEment! No. 5 #Pack9 Defeats Pitt for Best Start in Program History
3/8/2019 4:46:00 PM | Baseball
Wolfpack opens ACC play with a win for the second consecutive season
The Wolfpack's win eclipses the previous best start for the program at 12-0, achieved by the 1992 squad.
NC State is one of the nation's four remaining unbeaten teams and is the first team in the ACC to reach 13 wins this season. Pitt falls to 6-5 on the year and 0-1 in ACC play.
Avent's Additions
"I thought we played very, very well because Pitt obviously played very well," said head coach Elliott Avent. "Getting the early run was big, but they came back with two runs in the sixth and then added that run in the seventh.
"Once again, it shows you how resilient our ballclub is. We trailed 8-1 on Wednesday and down 3-1 today, this team continues to find ways. It doesn't matter who it is."
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) March 8, 2019
With the win, #Pack9 is off to its BEST start in program history at 13-0, as one of the nation's four unbeaten teams #STATEment ✅ pic.twitter.com/ev2Pm8lUM2
Quick Hits
- NC State struck first for the eighth time this season, as the Wolfpack pushed across a run in the bottom of the first.
- Will Wilson ripped a single through the left side and scored later in the inning on a fielder's choice from Tyler McDonough.
- Pitt plated a pair of runs in the sixth to grab a 2-1 lead following an RBI single from Nico Popa and an RBI triple from Kyle Hess.
- A wild pitch tacked on another run for the Panthers in the seventh, but the Wolfpack responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame.
- Lawson McArthur sparked the rally with a pinch-hit leadoff double to right field, before Luca Tresh battled to draw a walk in a pinch-hit role.
- Following a hit-by-pitch to load the bases, Evan Edwards grounded into a fielder's choice but an errant throw to second attempting to get the runner allowed two runs to score for the Pack.
- Patrick Bailey followed with a fielder's choice to second base to drive in Jonny Butler from third to give NC State a 4-3 advantage.
- Michael Bienlien worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning with a pair of looking strikeouts to earn his second win and Kent Klyman shut the door in the ninth to secure his first save.
- Jason Parker started on the mound for the Wolfpack and threw five shutout innings and departed with a 1-0 lead. He struck out four batters and only allowed a pair of singles.
Inside the Box Score
- Brad Debo extended his hitting streak to eight games with a double in the sixth.
- Bailey, Butler and Edwards all reached base safely in the contest and have done so in every game this season.
- McArthur paced the Pack at the plate, as he tallied a pair of doubles off the bench and also scored a run.
- Bailey, Debo and Wilson had one hit apiece.
- NC State did not commit an error defensively for the ninth time this season, as the squad is second in the ACC in fielding percentage.
That'll do it! A 4-3 win over Pittsburgh gives @NCStateBaseball its best start to a season in program history at 13-0!#GoPack #STATEment pic.twitter.com/wIy416D8dB
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) March 8, 2019
On Deck
NC State and Pitt will return to the field for game two of the series. First pitch has been moved up to 1 p.m. in an effort to avoid the likelihood of inclement weather later in the day.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bienlien, Michael (2-0)
L: David Moore (1-1)
S: Klyman, Kent (1)
Batting:
2B: Ron Washington Jr. 1
3B: Kyle Hess 1
RBI: Nico Popa 1 ; Kyle Hess 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Connor Perry 1 ; Ron Washington Jr. 1 ; Nico Popa 1
HBP: Zach Klapak 1
Batting:
2B: Debo, Brad 1 ; McArthur, Lawson 2
RBI: Edwards, Evan 1 ; Bailey, Patrick 1 ; McDonough, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Butler, Jonny 1 ; Wilson, Will 1 ; McArthur, Lawson 1 ; Thomas, Thayer 1
SB: Wilson, Will 1
HBP: Butler, Jonny 1
