Thursday, March 16
Raleigh, N.C.
7 p.m.
NC State
vs
Virginia
#Pack9 Hosts Virginia for First ACC Home Series of 2023
3/15/2023 7:00:00 PM | Baseball
Weekend Game Times: 7 p.m. (Thursday) | 6 p.m. (Friday) | 2 p.m. (Saturday)
RALEIGH – The NC State baseball team hosts its first ACC series of the season this weekend, opening a three-game series on Thursday night against Virginia. This weekend's series will run Thursday through Saturday with first pitch times scheduled for 7 p.m., 6 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
Thursday night's series opener at Doak Field at Dail Park will be broadcasted on ACC Network. Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App for all three games with Chris Hooks on the call. All three games will also be available on the radio on WKNC 88.1.
No. 23 NC State (14-3, 1-2 ACC) holds a 122-81-1 overall record against No. 14 Virginia (15-1, 2-1 ACC). This weekend's series will mark the first time the Pack and Cavaliers have faced off since March 2020.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Thursday – RHP Logan Whitaker (NCSU) vs. RHP Nick Parker (Virginia)
Friday – RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. RHP Brian Edgington (Virginia)
Saturday – LHP Dominic Fritton (NCSU) vs. RHP Jack O'Connor (Virginia)
THE MATCHUP: SERIES AGAINST VIRGINIA
NC State leads the all-time series against the Cavaliers 122-81-1 with the two programs first facing off all the way back in 1903. Other notes on this weekend's home ACC opener for the Wolfpack:
• NC State and Virginia have split their past 32 games, 16-16
• The last time NC State and Virginia met came on March 6-8, 2020, when the Cavaliers hosted the Pack in Charlottesville. Virginia won the series with wins on Friday and Sunday. NC State won game two of the series on Saturday 6-2 by scoring four runs in the final three innings
• The teams last met at Doak Field on March 29-31, 2019, where NC State used wins on Friday and Sunday to earn a series victory. The Pack scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Sunday contest to win 8-7 and take the series.
• NC State is one of just four ACC programs (NC State, Miami, Florida State and Louisville) that Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor has a losing record against. The Pack holds a 27-21 edge in 48 games against UVA since O'Connor took over the program in 2004.
LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND
The Wolfpack got off to a slow start in its 14-6 loss to Elon on Tuesday, dropping its first home game of the season. The Phoenix jumped out to an 11-0 lead after the top of the third. NC State battled back to trim its deficit to 12-6 after back-to-back homers from Noah Soles and Parker Nolan in the bottom of the fifth, but the Pack could not get any closer in its first loss to a midweek opponent this season. Three Wolfpack batters (Trevor Candelaria, Noah Soles and Carter Trice) recorded multiple hits in Tuesday's setback.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA
Virginia (15-1, 2-1 ACC) earned the title of being the last undefeated team in Division I in 2023, dropping just one game this past weekend in a series victory at North Carolina. The Cavaliers rank first among ACC teams with a .356 batting average, 3.06 doubles per game, 211 hits and five shutouts. Virginia was picked second in the Coastal Division in the ACC Preseason Poll with two first-place votes in the division. Virginia has four hitters with 45 or more at-bats batting .413 or higher, highlighted by league batting average leader Kyle Teel (.492). On the mound, Virginia has posted a 2.74 team ERA with a 171-48 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
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 (1,200-787; 976-574) now sits just 24 victories away from NC State career win No. 1,000.
PACK PROS ON THE WORLD STAGE
The 2023 World Baseball Classic got underway on March 7, 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 (50) so far this season. The Pack also ranks fourth nationally in doubles per game (2.94). The Wolfpack hit a season-high six doubles in its 14-4 victory over Miami on Sunday.
POWER SURGE
NC State ranks tied for seventh nationally with 38 home runs on the season. The Wolfpack has slugged multiple homers in 11 of its 17 games this season, hitting three or more home runs in nine of its 17 games in 2023. The Pack has slugged three homers apiece in its past two games, hitting three in the win at Miami on Sunday and recording three in the setback to Elon on Tuesday.
HOT START FOR PG
Sophomore shortstop Payton Green has been off to a hot start in 2023. Green has hit safely in 16 of NC State's first 17 games and reached base in all 17 appearances. Green leads the Pack with 27 RBI, seven home runs, 51 total bases and six stolen bases.
Green ranks tied for 33rd nationally with 51 total bases, tied for 12th nationally with 27 RBI and tied for 22nd nationally with seven home runs.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
Thursday night's series opener at Doak Field at Dail Park will be broadcasted on ACC Network. Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App for all three games with Chris Hooks on the call. All three games will also be available on the radio on WKNC 88.1.
No. 23 NC State (14-3, 1-2 ACC) holds a 122-81-1 overall record against No. 14 Virginia (15-1, 2-1 ACC). This weekend's series will mark the first time the Pack and Cavaliers have faced off since March 2020.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Thursday – RHP Logan Whitaker (NCSU) vs. RHP Nick Parker (Virginia)
Friday – RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. RHP Brian Edgington (Virginia)
Saturday – LHP Dominic Fritton (NCSU) vs. RHP Jack O'Connor (Virginia)
THE MATCHUP: SERIES AGAINST VIRGINIA
NC State leads the all-time series against the Cavaliers 122-81-1 with the two programs first facing off all the way back in 1903. Other notes on this weekend's home ACC opener for the Wolfpack:
• NC State and Virginia have split their past 32 games, 16-16
• The last time NC State and Virginia met came on March 6-8, 2020, when the Cavaliers hosted the Pack in Charlottesville. Virginia won the series with wins on Friday and Sunday. NC State won game two of the series on Saturday 6-2 by scoring four runs in the final three innings
• The teams last met at Doak Field on March 29-31, 2019, where NC State used wins on Friday and Sunday to earn a series victory. The Pack scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Sunday contest to win 8-7 and take the series.
• NC State is one of just four ACC programs (NC State, Miami, Florida State and Louisville) that Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor has a losing record against. The Pack holds a 27-21 edge in 48 games against UVA since O'Connor took over the program in 2004.
LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND
The Wolfpack got off to a slow start in its 14-6 loss to Elon on Tuesday, dropping its first home game of the season. The Phoenix jumped out to an 11-0 lead after the top of the third. NC State battled back to trim its deficit to 12-6 after back-to-back homers from Noah Soles and Parker Nolan in the bottom of the fifth, but the Pack could not get any closer in its first loss to a midweek opponent this season. Three Wolfpack batters (Trevor Candelaria, Noah Soles and Carter Trice) recorded multiple hits in Tuesday's setback.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA
Virginia (15-1, 2-1 ACC) earned the title of being the last undefeated team in Division I in 2023, dropping just one game this past weekend in a series victory at North Carolina. The Cavaliers rank first among ACC teams with a .356 batting average, 3.06 doubles per game, 211 hits and five shutouts. Virginia was picked second in the Coastal Division in the ACC Preseason Poll with two first-place votes in the division. Virginia has four hitters with 45 or more at-bats batting .413 or higher, highlighted by league batting average leader Kyle Teel (.492). On the mound, Virginia has posted a 2.74 team ERA with a 171-48 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
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 (1,200-787; 976-574) now sits just 24 victories away from NC State career win No. 1,000.
PACK PROS ON THE WORLD STAGE
The 2023 World Baseball Classic got underway on March 7, 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 (50) so far this season. The Pack also ranks fourth nationally in doubles per game (2.94). The Wolfpack hit a season-high six doubles in its 14-4 victory over Miami on Sunday.
POWER SURGE
NC State ranks tied for seventh nationally with 38 home runs on the season. The Wolfpack has slugged multiple homers in 11 of its 17 games this season, hitting three or more home runs in nine of its 17 games in 2023. The Pack has slugged three homers apiece in its past two games, hitting three in the win at Miami on Sunday and recording three in the setback to Elon on Tuesday.
HOT START FOR PG
Sophomore shortstop Payton Green has been off to a hot start in 2023. Green has hit safely in 16 of NC State's first 17 games and reached base in all 17 appearances. Green leads the Pack with 27 RBI, seven home runs, 51 total bases and six stolen bases.
Green ranks tied for 33rd nationally with 51 total bases, tied for 12th nationally with 27 RBI and tied for 22nd nationally with seven home runs.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
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