#Pack9 Opens ACC Play This Weekend At Virginia

RALEIGH – No. 7 NC State baseball (12-0) is set to open ACC play this weekend when it travels to No. 23 Virginia (10-3) for a three-game series. The teams will play Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at Davenport Field at Disharoon Park in Charlottesville, Va.

The first two games will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra, while Sunday's game will be on the ACC Network. There will additionally be a free audio stream on WKNC 88.1 FM for all three games.

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday – RHP Reid Johnston (NCSU) vs. RHP Griff McGarry (UVA)
Saturday – LHP Nick Swiney (NCSU) vs. RHP Mike Vasil (UVA)
Sunday – LHP David Harrison (NCSU) vs. LHP Nate Savino (UVA)

SERIES HISTORY
Friday will be the 202^nd meeting between the Wolfpack and Cavaliers, as NC State owns a 121-79-1 advantage in the all-time series.

Last year, Virginia traveled to Raleigh for a weekend series on March 29-31. The Cavs took game one, 4-3, but Reid Johnston's 3-0 complete game shutout in game two followed by an 8-7 late rally in the rubber game allowed the Pack to take the series.

NC State has won the last three series with Virginia, as it also took two of three in Charlottesville on April 1-3, 2016 and in Raleigh on April 24-26, 2015.

LAST TIME OUT
The Pack used a monster 10-run first inning to power past Coastal Carolina, 24-7 (7 inn.), on Wednesday in Raleigh. The 21 hits and 24 runs scored were both season highs for the squad.

Patrick Bailey hit his third grand slam in 11 days, and the team tallied nine doubles in the contest, the most in a single game since Feb. 19, 2010 vs. La Salle.

Devonte Brown and Austin Murr also went yard in the game, and it was the sixth time this season the team has hit multiple homers in a single game.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Sophomore Tyler McDonough has been phenomenal not only at the plate in his Wolfpack career, but also defensively. As a freshman he earned 60 starts in his 61 appearances, and has started all 12 games this season either at second base or center field. He currently owns a 73-game streak of not committing an error.

LEADING THE WAY
Heading into ACC play this weekend, the Pack leads the ACC and ranks top seven in the NCAA in 10 different categories.

Batting Average (.348) - 1^st in the ACC, 1^st in the NCAA
Double Plays (15) – 1^st in the ACC, 5^th in the NCAA
Double Plays per Game (1.25) – 1^st in the ACC, 7^th in the NCAA
Hits (144) – 1^st in the ACC, 7^th in the NCAA
Home Runs (22) – 1^st in the ACC, 2^nd in the NCAA
Home Runs per Game (1.83) – 1^st in the ACC, 4^th in the NCAA
On-Base Percentage (.443) – 1^st in the ACC, 5^th in the NCAA
Runs (125) – 1^st in the ACC, 7^th in the NCAA
Scoring (10.4) – 1^st in the ACC, 4^th in the NCAA
Slugging Percentage (.618) - 1^st in the ACC, 1^st in the NCAA

SCOUTING VIRGINIA
-The Cavaliers are on a six-game win streak, and defeated Richmond at home, 16-7, on Tuesday in its last time out.
-Last year Virginia finished 32-24, and ended its season with a pair of losses to North Carolina and Miami in the ACC Tournament on May 22-23.
-Virginia was picked to finish fifth in the Coastal Division of the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll.
-Six different players are batting over .300, led by Chris Newell with a .410 clip and .718 slugging percentage. The Cavalier offense is averaging 10.23 hits and 8.84 runs per game.
-On the mound, Virginia ranks T7th in the NCAA in strikeouts with 152.
-Griff McGarry and Mike Vasil have made three starts apiece this season and lead the staff with 1.12 and 2.25 earned-run averages, in respective order.

ON DECK
Tuesday, March 10 • 6 PM • vs. Charlotte
Wednesday, March 11 • 6 PM • vs. NC A&T

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Players Mentioned

Patrick Bailey

Devonte Brown

David Harrison

Reid Johnston

Tyler McDonough

Austin Murr

Nick Swiney