Friday, February 24
Raleigh, N.C.
3 p.m.
NC State
vs
Belmont
Photo by: Mollie Mitchell
Baseball Opens Eight-Game Homestand Against Belmont
2/23/2023 1:15:00 PM | Baseball
ACCNX LinksLive StatsVarsity Network AppGame ProgramFan InformationNC State Game NotesBelmont Game Notes
Weekend Game Times: 3 p.m. (Friday) | 2 p.m. (Saturday) | 1 p.m. (Sunday)
RALEIGH – No. 21 NC State returns to Doak Field at Dail Park Friday to open a three-game series against Belmont. This weekend's series will run Friday through Sunday with first pitch times slated for 3 p.m., 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
All three games will be broadcasted live on ACC Network Extra. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App for all three games. Friday and Saturday's games will also be available on the radio on WKNC 88.1.
Friday's matchup against Belmont will mark the first all-time meeting between the Wolfpack and Bruins.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Friday – RHP Logan Whitaker (NCSU) vs. LHP Andy Bean (Belmont)
Saturday – RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. LHP Jalen Borders (Belmont)
Sunday – LHP Dominic Fritton (NCSU) vs. LHP Dominic Baratta (Belmont)
FIRST MEETING AGAINST THE BRUINS
This weekend's series against the Bruins will mark the first meetings between the two programs. NC State will play two first-time opponents in 2023 in back-to-back home weekend series when the Pack hosts Belmont (Feb. 24-26) and NJIT (March 3-5) at The Doak.
LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND
The Wolfpack scored 13 runs over just three innings (fourth-sixth) in a dominant 16-4 midweek victory at Coastal Carolina on Wednesday. The Pack set the tone early with two runs in the first inning before breaking the game open with five runs in the fourth inning. Davidson transfers Parker Nolan and Trevor Candelaria combined for seven hits, nine RBI and six runs scored in the lopsided victory. On the mound, P.J. Labriola delivered 3.2 strong innings in his first-career start before turning it over to Sam Highfill, Andrew Shaffner, Derrick Smith and Creed Watkins to close out the game. With the win, NC State has won its road opener in nine of the past 11 seasons.
THE MAYOR RETURNS
Sam Highfill, often referred to as The Mayor by his teammates, returned to the mound in Wednesday's win at Coastal Carolina. Highfill looked sharp in his first appearance since throwing three innings at Clemson on April 3, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts. His performance also helped him garner his first pitching victory of the season. Highfill missed the second half of the 2022 season due to a back injury.
POP FROM PARKER
Graduate outfielder and Davidson transfer Parker Nolan has had a fast start to his Wolfpack career, batting .455 with a team-high eight RBI, 15 total bases, three home runs and a 1.364 slugging percentage. In Wednesday's 16-4 win at Coastal Carolina, Nolan went 4-for-5 with two home runs, four runs scored, six RBI and 11 total bases. Nolan's four runs scored, six RBI and 11 total bases all marked new career highs. The Wolfpack outfielder also became the first NC State player to score four runs in a game in over a year as Devonte Brown last scored four runs in a #Pack9 game on Feb. 23, 2022, against Longwood. Both of Nolan's home runs were tape-measurer shots, including his solo home run to center field clearing the 20-foot batter's eye. Since 2015, only 17 batters had cleared the wall in center field at Coastal Carolina's Springs Brooks Field. Nolan made it 18.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Belmont (2-3) enters this week's series at Doak Field at Dail Park with a pair of victories over UT-Martin. The Bruins dropped the first two games in the four-game opening weekend series, losing both games of a Saturday doubleheader. Belmont returned the favor a day later with a doubleheader sweep of the Skyhawks. The Bruins then dropped their first midweek game of the season Tuesday in a 9-7 defeat to the WKU Hilltoppers. The Bruins had an excellent 2022 season behind longtime head coach Dave Jarvis, finishing with a 39-20 record and a 5-4 loss in the Ohio Valley Championship game. Junior Mason Landers leads Belmont at the plate with three home runs, seven RBI, 17 total bases and a .944 slugging percentage.
BRINGING THEM HOME
For the second time in just four games this season, five different Wolfpack batters registered two or more RBI in Wednesday's win in Conway, South Carolina. Through four games, the Wolfpack offense has produced 12 multi-run innings, averaging three per contest. Ten different batters have recorded two or more RBI this season, including five or more from Parker Nolan (eight), Trevor Candelaria (seven) and Payton Green (five).
AVENT'S CHASE TO 1,000 & 1,200
NC State baseball head coach Elliott Avent has reached many milestones throughout his collegiate coaching career, entering the 2023 season with a 1,186-784 overall record and a 962-571 record at NC State. With four straight wins to open the season, Avent sits just 10 wins away from career victory No. 1,200 and 34 victories away from NC State career win No. 1,000.
With career win No. 1,200, Avent would become the 29th coach in NCAA history to surpass 1,200 career victories.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
All three games will be broadcasted live on ACC Network Extra. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App for all three games. Friday and Saturday's games will also be available on the radio on WKNC 88.1.
Friday's matchup against Belmont will mark the first all-time meeting between the Wolfpack and Bruins.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Friday – RHP Logan Whitaker (NCSU) vs. LHP Andy Bean (Belmont)
Saturday – RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. LHP Jalen Borders (Belmont)
Sunday – LHP Dominic Fritton (NCSU) vs. LHP Dominic Baratta (Belmont)
FIRST MEETING AGAINST THE BRUINS
This weekend's series against the Bruins will mark the first meetings between the two programs. NC State will play two first-time opponents in 2023 in back-to-back home weekend series when the Pack hosts Belmont (Feb. 24-26) and NJIT (March 3-5) at The Doak.
LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND
The Wolfpack scored 13 runs over just three innings (fourth-sixth) in a dominant 16-4 midweek victory at Coastal Carolina on Wednesday. The Pack set the tone early with two runs in the first inning before breaking the game open with five runs in the fourth inning. Davidson transfers Parker Nolan and Trevor Candelaria combined for seven hits, nine RBI and six runs scored in the lopsided victory. On the mound, P.J. Labriola delivered 3.2 strong innings in his first-career start before turning it over to Sam Highfill, Andrew Shaffner, Derrick Smith and Creed Watkins to close out the game. With the win, NC State has won its road opener in nine of the past 11 seasons.
THE MAYOR RETURNS
Sam Highfill, often referred to as The Mayor by his teammates, returned to the mound in Wednesday's win at Coastal Carolina. Highfill looked sharp in his first appearance since throwing three innings at Clemson on April 3, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts. His performance also helped him garner his first pitching victory of the season. Highfill missed the second half of the 2022 season due to a back injury.
POP FROM PARKER
Graduate outfielder and Davidson transfer Parker Nolan has had a fast start to his Wolfpack career, batting .455 with a team-high eight RBI, 15 total bases, three home runs and a 1.364 slugging percentage. In Wednesday's 16-4 win at Coastal Carolina, Nolan went 4-for-5 with two home runs, four runs scored, six RBI and 11 total bases. Nolan's four runs scored, six RBI and 11 total bases all marked new career highs. The Wolfpack outfielder also became the first NC State player to score four runs in a game in over a year as Devonte Brown last scored four runs in a #Pack9 game on Feb. 23, 2022, against Longwood. Both of Nolan's home runs were tape-measurer shots, including his solo home run to center field clearing the 20-foot batter's eye. Since 2015, only 17 batters had cleared the wall in center field at Coastal Carolina's Springs Brooks Field. Nolan made it 18.
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Belmont (2-3) enters this week's series at Doak Field at Dail Park with a pair of victories over UT-Martin. The Bruins dropped the first two games in the four-game opening weekend series, losing both games of a Saturday doubleheader. Belmont returned the favor a day later with a doubleheader sweep of the Skyhawks. The Bruins then dropped their first midweek game of the season Tuesday in a 9-7 defeat to the WKU Hilltoppers. The Bruins had an excellent 2022 season behind longtime head coach Dave Jarvis, finishing with a 39-20 record and a 5-4 loss in the Ohio Valley Championship game. Junior Mason Landers leads Belmont at the plate with three home runs, seven RBI, 17 total bases and a .944 slugging percentage.
BRINGING THEM HOME
For the second time in just four games this season, five different Wolfpack batters registered two or more RBI in Wednesday's win in Conway, South Carolina. Through four games, the Wolfpack offense has produced 12 multi-run innings, averaging three per contest. Ten different batters have recorded two or more RBI this season, including five or more from Parker Nolan (eight), Trevor Candelaria (seven) and Payton Green (five).
AVENT'S CHASE TO 1,000 & 1,200
NC State baseball head coach Elliott Avent has reached many milestones throughout his collegiate coaching career, entering the 2023 season with a 1,186-784 overall record and a 962-571 record at NC State. With four straight wins to open the season, Avent sits just 10 wins away from career victory No. 1,200 and 34 victories away from NC State career win No. 1,000.
With career win No. 1,200, Avent would become the 29th coach in NCAA history to surpass 1,200 career victories.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
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