Friday, March 3
Raleigh, N.C.
4:15 p.m. (Updated)
NC State
vs
NJIT
NC State Concludes Homestand Against NJIT
3/2/2023 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
Weekend Game Times: 3 p.m. (Friday) | 2 p.m. (Saturday) | 1 p.m. (Sunday)
RALEIGH – No. 21 NC State concludes its eight-game homestand with a three-game weekend series against NJIT at Doak Field at Dail Park. This weekend's series will run Friday through Sunday with first pitch times scheduled 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 with Tony Haynes on the call. This weekend's baseball games will also be available on the radio (WKNC 88.1) dependent on the NC State women's basketball team's ACC Tournament schedule in Greensboro.
Friday's matchup against NJIT will mark the first all-time meeting between the Wolfpack and Highlanders.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Friday – RHP Logan Whitaker (NCSU) vs. RHP Ryan Fischer (NJIT)
Saturday – RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. LHP Aidan Kidd (NJIT)
Sunday – LHP Dominic Fritton (NCSU) vs. RHP Joe Georgini (NJIT)
LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND
The Wolfpack won in two completely different ways during the midweek -- posting a 14-0 run-rule victory over Longwood on Tuesday before using a late comeback to defeat Radford 9-7 on Wednesday. NC State dominated the Lancers to open the week, scoring two runs or more in five of the first six innings while allowing just three hits in the lopsided victory. On Wednesday, NC State faced a 7-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning, using a seven-run seventh inning to flip a five-run deficit into a two-run lead at 9-7. Jacob Cozart's two-run double with the bases loaded helped score the winning run, while Payton Green's three-run homer ignited the rally with nobody out in the seventh frame.
COMEBACK PACK
NC State has trailed after the second inning in just two games this season -- against Wagner on Feb. 18 and against Radford on Wednesday. The Wolfpack retook and held the lead in similar fashions in both comeback victories with a multi-run at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Pack turned a 2-0 deficit into an eventual 3-2 win against Wagner with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Justin Lawson then entered in the eighth inning (with two outs) to nail down the win and earn the save. Less than two weeks later, the Wolfpack again used a big seventh inning to retake the lead, batting around to plate seven runs. And once again, Justin Lawson entered and slammed the door, allowing one hit with three strikeouts in the final two innings for his second save.
AND THEN THERE WERE NINE
Nine games into its 2023 season, NC State enters the weekend as one of nine undefeated teams in the NCAA Division I ranks. The Wolfpack is joined by three ACC schools on the list -- Alabama, Georgia Tech (ACC), Lamar, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Troy, Virginia (ACC) and Wake Forest (ACC).
POWER SURGE
With four more home runs during the week, NC State now ranks tied for 11th in the nation with 18 home runs on the season. The Wolfpack has blasted two or more home runs in five of the last six games and in four of its last five games during its current homestand. Payton Green (four), Carter Trice (three), Parker Nolan (three), Will Marcy (two) and Jacob Cozart (two) have all recorded multiple home runs so far in 2023.
SCOUTING NJIT
The Highlanders (4-3) have opened their 2023 season entirely on the road, taking two games out of three at Davidson before splitting a four-game series against Purdue at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, North Carolina. NJIT's offense has produced five or more runs in all four of its victories, including 12-run and 14-run performances in the final two games of its series against the Wildcats. Four batters with 20 or more at-bats are batting over .300 for the Highlanders, highlighted by Albert Choi, who leads NJIT with 13 hits, three triples, 23 total bases and four stolen bases. NJIT advanced to an NCAA Regional in 2021, going 1-2 in Fayetteville before the Wolfpack defeated hosts Arkansas in the Super Regional to advance to Omaha.
HOT START FOR PG
Sophomore shortstop Payton Green has had a phenomenal start to his 2023 season, leading the Wolfpack with a .471 batting average, 16 hits, four home runs, 18 RBI, 33 total bases, a .971 slugging percentage and five stolen bases. Green has also impressed in the field at shortstop, putting away all 34 of his defensive chances so far this season. Green blasted a key three-run homer to ignite a late rally in NC State's 9-7 win over Radford on Wednesday. Green ranks tied for ninth nationally entering the weekend in total bases and tied for fourth in the country with 18 RBI.
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 nine straight wins to open the season, Avent sits just five wins away from career victory No. 1,200 and 29 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 notch 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 with Tony Haynes on the call. This weekend's baseball games will also be available on the radio (WKNC 88.1) dependent on the NC State women's basketball team's ACC Tournament schedule in Greensboro.
Friday's matchup against NJIT will mark the first all-time meeting between the Wolfpack and Highlanders.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Friday – RHP Logan Whitaker (NCSU) vs. RHP Ryan Fischer (NJIT)
Saturday – RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. LHP Aidan Kidd (NJIT)
Sunday – LHP Dominic Fritton (NCSU) vs. RHP Joe Georgini (NJIT)
LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND
The Wolfpack won in two completely different ways during the midweek -- posting a 14-0 run-rule victory over Longwood on Tuesday before using a late comeback to defeat Radford 9-7 on Wednesday. NC State dominated the Lancers to open the week, scoring two runs or more in five of the first six innings while allowing just three hits in the lopsided victory. On Wednesday, NC State faced a 7-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning, using a seven-run seventh inning to flip a five-run deficit into a two-run lead at 9-7. Jacob Cozart's two-run double with the bases loaded helped score the winning run, while Payton Green's three-run homer ignited the rally with nobody out in the seventh frame.
COMEBACK PACK
NC State has trailed after the second inning in just two games this season -- against Wagner on Feb. 18 and against Radford on Wednesday. The Wolfpack retook and held the lead in similar fashions in both comeback victories with a multi-run at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Pack turned a 2-0 deficit into an eventual 3-2 win against Wagner with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Justin Lawson then entered in the eighth inning (with two outs) to nail down the win and earn the save. Less than two weeks later, the Wolfpack again used a big seventh inning to retake the lead, batting around to plate seven runs. And once again, Justin Lawson entered and slammed the door, allowing one hit with three strikeouts in the final two innings for his second save.
AND THEN THERE WERE NINE
Nine games into its 2023 season, NC State enters the weekend as one of nine undefeated teams in the NCAA Division I ranks. The Wolfpack is joined by three ACC schools on the list -- Alabama, Georgia Tech (ACC), Lamar, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Troy, Virginia (ACC) and Wake Forest (ACC).
POWER SURGE
With four more home runs during the week, NC State now ranks tied for 11th in the nation with 18 home runs on the season. The Wolfpack has blasted two or more home runs in five of the last six games and in four of its last five games during its current homestand. Payton Green (four), Carter Trice (three), Parker Nolan (three), Will Marcy (two) and Jacob Cozart (two) have all recorded multiple home runs so far in 2023.
SCOUTING NJIT
The Highlanders (4-3) have opened their 2023 season entirely on the road, taking two games out of three at Davidson before splitting a four-game series against Purdue at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, North Carolina. NJIT's offense has produced five or more runs in all four of its victories, including 12-run and 14-run performances in the final two games of its series against the Wildcats. Four batters with 20 or more at-bats are batting over .300 for the Highlanders, highlighted by Albert Choi, who leads NJIT with 13 hits, three triples, 23 total bases and four stolen bases. NJIT advanced to an NCAA Regional in 2021, going 1-2 in Fayetteville before the Wolfpack defeated hosts Arkansas in the Super Regional to advance to Omaha.
HOT START FOR PG
Sophomore shortstop Payton Green has had a phenomenal start to his 2023 season, leading the Wolfpack with a .471 batting average, 16 hits, four home runs, 18 RBI, 33 total bases, a .971 slugging percentage and five stolen bases. Green has also impressed in the field at shortstop, putting away all 34 of his defensive chances so far this season. Green blasted a key three-run homer to ignite a late rally in NC State's 9-7 win over Radford on Wednesday. Green ranks tied for ninth nationally entering the weekend in total bases and tied for fourth in the country with 18 RBI.
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 nine straight wins to open the season, Avent sits just five wins away from career victory No. 1,200 and 29 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 notch 1,200 career victories.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
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