Wednesday, February 22
Conway, S.C.
4 p.m.
NC State
16
at
4
Coastal Carolina
#Pack9 Dominates Road Opener With 16-4 Victory at Coastal Carolina
2/22/2023 7:44:00 PM | Baseball
Wolfpack Scored 13 Runs in Three Innings
CONWAY, S.C. – Three straight multi-run innings from the Wolfpack offense helped the NC State baseball team notch a dominant 16-4 victory at Coastal Carolina Wednesday night at Springs Brooks Stadium.
NC State (4-0) scored five runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, in the midweek victory. For the second time this season, the #Pack9 offense had five batters record multiple RBI, highlighted by centerfielder Parker Nolan's six RBI. Nolan set new career-highs with four runs scored, six RBI and 11 total bases.
Trevor Candelaria set the tone for the Wolfpack in the first inning, ripping the first pitch of the game into left field for a leadoff single. Will Marcy then stepped to the plate with two outs in the opening frame and belted a two-run home run to left-center to make it 2-0.
Left-hander P.J. Labriola then not only made his NC State debut, but his first-career start in his collegiate career. Labriola struck out two batters in the first inning before limiting the damage in the second inning, allowing just one run after three straight singles opened the bottom of the second.
After NC State and Coastal Carolina (2-2) went scoreless in the third, the Pack batted around in the top of the fourth to plate five runs, giving the NC State a 7-1 advantage. Marcy opened the inning with a walk before Jacob Cozart drew a four-pitch walk with one out. Nolan then doubled down the left-field line to make it 3-1 Wolfpack.
Eli Serrano III then extended NC State's lead to 5-1 with the first two RBI of his collegiate career, smacking a two-RBI double down the left-field line. A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt and an RBI single from LuJames Groover III made it 7-1 in the fourth inning.
Labriola went a career-high 3.2 innings, scattering five hits with five strikeouts before right-hander Sam Highfill entered with two outs in the fourth inning. Highfill earned the pitching victory in his return to the mound, pitching 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts while allowing just one hit.
The Pack added on in the fifth, stretching its lead to 11-3. Nolan again jumpstarted the scoring with an RBI single before Candelaria dropped in a two-RBI triple down the right-field line to make it 10-3. NC State extended its lead to 11-3 via a throwing error.
NC State recorded its third straight multi-run inning with four runs in the sixth inning. Marcy singled and Cozart doubled to open the inning before Nolan blasted a three-run home run to left field on the first pitch of his at-bat, pushing the Pack's lead to 14-3. Candelaria then doubled later in the frame to make it 15-4.
Nolan capped off the Pack's scoring in the eighth inning with a solo home run over the 20-foot fence in center field, becoming just the 18th batter since 2015 to have a home run clear the batter's eye in center field.
Andrew Shaffner spun two scoreless innings out of the bullpen before Derrick Smith made his Wolfpack debut in the eighth inning. Creed Watkins recorded the final three outs with a pair of strikeouts.
Five NC State batters recorded multiple hits in the victory – Nolan (four), Candelaria (three), Marcy (two), Green (two) and Kalae Harrison (two).
NC State has now won its road opener in nine of the past 11 seasons and has started 4-0 in four of the past five seasons.
UP NEXT
The Wolfpack returns home to Doak Field at Dail Park for an eight-game homestand. NC State opens its homestand on Friday with a three-game series against Belmont. Friday's series opener is set to begin at 3 p.m. and will be broadcasted live on ACC Network Extra.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
NC State (4-0) scored five runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, in the midweek victory. For the second time this season, the #Pack9 offense had five batters record multiple RBI, highlighted by centerfielder Parker Nolan's six RBI. Nolan set new career-highs with four runs scored, six RBI and 11 total bases.
Trevor Candelaria set the tone for the Wolfpack in the first inning, ripping the first pitch of the game into left field for a leadoff single. Will Marcy then stepped to the plate with two outs in the opening frame and belted a two-run home run to left-center to make it 2-0.
Left-hander P.J. Labriola then not only made his NC State debut, but his first-career start in his collegiate career. Labriola struck out two batters in the first inning before limiting the damage in the second inning, allowing just one run after three straight singles opened the bottom of the second.
After NC State and Coastal Carolina (2-2) went scoreless in the third, the Pack batted around in the top of the fourth to plate five runs, giving the NC State a 7-1 advantage. Marcy opened the inning with a walk before Jacob Cozart drew a four-pitch walk with one out. Nolan then doubled down the left-field line to make it 3-1 Wolfpack.
Eli Serrano III then extended NC State's lead to 5-1 with the first two RBI of his collegiate career, smacking a two-RBI double down the left-field line. A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt and an RBI single from LuJames Groover III made it 7-1 in the fourth inning.
Labriola went a career-high 3.2 innings, scattering five hits with five strikeouts before right-hander Sam Highfill entered with two outs in the fourth inning. Highfill earned the pitching victory in his return to the mound, pitching 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts while allowing just one hit.
The Pack added on in the fifth, stretching its lead to 11-3. Nolan again jumpstarted the scoring with an RBI single before Candelaria dropped in a two-RBI triple down the right-field line to make it 10-3. NC State extended its lead to 11-3 via a throwing error.
NC State recorded its third straight multi-run inning with four runs in the sixth inning. Marcy singled and Cozart doubled to open the inning before Nolan blasted a three-run home run to left field on the first pitch of his at-bat, pushing the Pack's lead to 14-3. Candelaria then doubled later in the frame to make it 15-4.
Nolan capped off the Pack's scoring in the eighth inning with a solo home run over the 20-foot fence in center field, becoming just the 18th batter since 2015 to have a home run clear the batter's eye in center field.
Andrew Shaffner spun two scoreless innings out of the bullpen before Derrick Smith made his Wolfpack debut in the eighth inning. Creed Watkins recorded the final three outs with a pair of strikeouts.
Five NC State batters recorded multiple hits in the victory – Nolan (four), Candelaria (three), Marcy (two), Green (two) and Kalae Harrison (two).
NC State has now won its road opener in nine of the past 11 seasons and has started 4-0 in four of the past five seasons.
UP NEXT
The Wolfpack returns home to Doak Field at Dail Park for an eight-game homestand. NC State opens its homestand on Friday with a three-game series against Belmont. Friday's series opener is set to begin at 3 p.m. and will be broadcasted live on ACC Network Extra.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
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