#Pack9 Hosts Elon on Tuesday Afternoon

RALEIGH – The NC State baseball team returns home to host Elon (9-7, 2-1 CAA) at Doak Field at Dail Park on Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday's game was moved up four hours to a 2 p.m. first pitch earlier on Monday.

Tuesday's game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App and the game will be available on the radio on WKNC 88.1.

NC State holds a 45-13 all-time record against Elon, winning five straight matchups against the Phoenix. The Wolfpack edged Elon in a tight 2-1 road contest this past season, scoring both its runs in the second inning before holding on in the bottom of the ninth for the in-state midweek victory.

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday – RHP Jacob Halford (NCSU) vs. LHP Cole Reynolds (Elon)

LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND
NC State entered this past weekend's ACC series opener 13-0 as one of just three unbeaten teams remaining in Division I. The Pack fell behind early 8-0 in Friday's contest before scoring the next eight runs to tie it at 8-8 in the seventh inning. A solo home run from Ian Farrow in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the difference in Friday's game as the Hurricanes handed NC State its first loss of the season. After an 8-1 defeat on Saturday, the Wolfpack responded with a wire-to-wire 14-4 victory on Sunday. NC State jumped out to an 11-0 lead behind a clinical offensive performance and excellent outings from Dominic Fritton and Sam Highfill on the mound.

AVENT RECORDS CAREER WIN NO. 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. Avent captured career win No. 1,200 in Sunday's 14-4 victory at Miami, becoming the 29th head coach in Division I history to reach 1,200 career victories. He is one of only five active head coaches with 1,200 or more career wins.

Avent (1,200-786; 976-573) now sits just 24 victories away from NC State career win No. 1,000.

COMEBACK PACK
NC State has trailed after the second inning in just five games this season. The Wolfpack has rallied to win three of those games, twice with multi-run team at-bats in the seventh inning and once behind March 5's walk-off homer from Payton Green. NC State rallied from eight runs down to tie Friday's ACC opener at 8-8 but failed to take a late lead in the 9-8 defeat.

SCOUTING ELON
Elon (9-7, 2-1 CAA) earned back-to-back one-run victories over Northeastern this past weekend to notch a series win to open CAA play. The Phoenix has played 14 of its first 16 games at home at Latham Park, holding an 8-6 record at home and 1-1 record on the road. Elon was picked seventh in the 2023 CAA Preseason Poll with designated hitter Luke Stephenson and starting pitcher Shea Sprague earning spots on the 2023 Preseason All-CAA Baseball Team. As a team, Elon ranks 204th nationally with a .252 batting average. The Phoenix pitching staff, however, has impressed with a 3.17 staff ERA, which ranks 19th in the nation.

PACK PROS ON THE WORLD STAGE
The 2023 World Baseball Classic got underway on Tuesday, and the #Pack9 is represented well on the world stage with four former members of the Pack competing for three separate countries in this year's tournament. Trea Turner (United States), Evan Mendoza (Colombia), Vojtech Mensik (Czech Republic) and Marek Chlup (Czech Republic) will all be competing in the World Baseball Classic. NC State ranks tied for first with four California schools (UCLA, USC, Stanford and Long Beach State) for the most representatives at the WBC from a single school.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
NC State ranks tied for first nationally in total doubles hit (49) so far this season. The Pack also ranks third nationally in doubles per game (3.06). The Wolfpack hit a season-high six doubles in its 14-4 victory over Miami on Sunday.

POWER SURGE
NC State ranks tied for 10th nationally with 35 home runs on the season. The Wolfpack has slugged multiple homers in 10 of its 16 games this season, hitting three or more home runs in eight of its 16 games in 2023. The Pack slugged three homers twice this past week, hitting three apiece in wins over UNCG and Miami. Nine different Wolfpack batters have hit multiple home runs this season.

RECORD AGAINST IN-STATE OPPONENTS
The Wolfpack finished with a 13-9 record against in-state opponents in 2022, including a 9-2 record against in-state nonconference opponents. NC State earned in-state midweek victories over High Point, UNCG, Elon, North Carolina A&T, East Carolina and UNCW.

Since taking over the NC State baseball program in 1997, head coach Elliott Avent has led the Pack to a 346-171 (.669) record against in-state opponents. NC State won its first matchup against an in-state opponent in 2023 with a 15-13 victory at UNCG on Tuesday.

UP NEXT
The Wolfpack hosts Virginia for its first ACC home series of the 2023 season this weekend. This weekend's series begins on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Thursday night's matchup against the Cavaliers will be televised on ACC Network.

#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball

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Players Mentioned

Dominic Fritton

Payton Green

Jacob Halford

Sam Highfill