Tuesday, March 28
Raleigh, N.C.
4 p.m. (Updated)
NC State
vs
UNCG
NC State Hosts UNCG on Tuesday
3/27/2023 6:34:00 PM | Baseball
Updated First Pitch Time: 4 p.m. at #TheDoak
RALEIGH – The NC State baseball team returns to Raleigh Tuesday to host UNCG (13-11, 2-1 SoCon) at Doak Field at Dail Park. First pitch for Tuesday night's game is set for 6 p.m.
UPDATE (10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28): NC State's home midweek game against UNCG has been moved up two hours to a 4 p.m. start time on Tuesday afternoon. The game was originally slated for 6 p.m. and has been moved up due to inclement weather.
Tuesday's game at The Doak will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App with Tony Haynes on the call. Tuesday's game will also be available on the radio on WKNC 88.1.
NC State (17-7, 3-6 ACC) holds a 32-9 advantage in the all-time series against the Spartans.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday – RHP Baker Nelson (NCSU) vs. RHP/INF Caleb Cozart (UNCG)
THE MATCHUP: SERIES AGAINST UNCG
NC State returns to Raleigh Tuesday to face off against UNCG for the second time in 2023. The Wolfpack holds a 32-9 advantage in the all-time series and won this year's previous matchup 15-13 at UNCG Baseball Stadium on March 7. Despite all the scoring, NC State never trailed in its matchup against the Spartans, taking the lead for good when LuJames Groover III delivered an RBI single to center field. The slugfest featured 28 total runs and 26 total hits. Overall, NC State has won four of its past five games against UNCG and eight of its past 10.
LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND
The Wolfpack split Sunday's doubleheader at Boston College, winning game one 12-2 in run-rule fashion in eight innings before dropping game two 8-7 in 10 innings. NC State's doubleheader split meant the Pack was unable to notch the series victory in Chestnut Hill as the then-No. 16 Eagles earned the series win with a 4-1 triumph in Friday's series opener. The Pack scored five runs in the sixth and six runs in the eighth in game one of Sunday's doubleheader, flipping the momentum behind Cannon Peebles' go-ahead three-run homer. Matt Willadsen exceled once again on the mound, pitching 6.0 innings while allowing just two runs (both unearned). In game two, NC State built a game-high five-run lead at 7-2 after the top of the sixth, but the Eagles stormed back with the game's final six runs to earn the 8-7 walk-off victory.
SCOUTING UNCG
UNCG (13-11, 2-1 SoCon) finished off a 3-1 week with a series win over Western Carolina on Sunday. After dropping game one of its first Southern Conference series of the season, the Spartans recorded a 5-4 walk-off win in 12 innings against WCU on Saturday before outslugging the Catamounts in an 11-8 win on Sunday. Zack Budzik paces the Spartans with a .357 batting average, while Kennedy Jones leads UNCG with a .535 slugging percentage, and 35 hits. UNCG was predicted to place third in the 2023 SoCon Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll with one first-place vote.
PUTTING UP CROOKED NUMBERS
The Wolfpack offense has scored runs in bunches this season, posting 58 multi-run innings through just 24 games (2.42 per game). NC State's single-game high for runs scored in one inning was seven runs in the bottom of the seventh against Radford. NC State's single-game high for the number of multi-run innings is five, scoring multiple runs in a game five times in three different matchups.
COZART ON A ROLL
Sophomore catcher Jacob Cozart has been on fire in ACC play, batting a team-high .556 while pacing all Wolfpack hitters in hits (15), doubles (five), RBI (nine), total bases (26) and on-base percentage (.639). Cozart's strong start to conference action has vaulted him into the team lead for batting average for the entire 2023 season at .403. Overall, Cozart leads all ACC batters with his .556 batting average and .639 on-base percentage.
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 is 2-1 against in-state opponents this season, earning road midweek victories at UNCG and UNCW. The Pack's sole nonconference loss this season came at home to Elon on March 14.
Since taking over the NC State baseball program in 1997, head coach Elliott Avent has led the Pack to a 347-172 (.669) record against in-state opponents.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
UPDATE (10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28): NC State's home midweek game against UNCG has been moved up two hours to a 4 p.m. start time on Tuesday afternoon. The game was originally slated for 6 p.m. and has been moved up due to inclement weather.
Tuesday's game at The Doak will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App with Tony Haynes on the call. Tuesday's game will also be available on the radio on WKNC 88.1.
NC State (17-7, 3-6 ACC) holds a 32-9 advantage in the all-time series against the Spartans.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday – RHP Baker Nelson (NCSU) vs. RHP/INF Caleb Cozart (UNCG)
THE MATCHUP: SERIES AGAINST UNCG
NC State returns to Raleigh Tuesday to face off against UNCG for the second time in 2023. The Wolfpack holds a 32-9 advantage in the all-time series and won this year's previous matchup 15-13 at UNCG Baseball Stadium on March 7. Despite all the scoring, NC State never trailed in its matchup against the Spartans, taking the lead for good when LuJames Groover III delivered an RBI single to center field. The slugfest featured 28 total runs and 26 total hits. Overall, NC State has won four of its past five games against UNCG and eight of its past 10.
LAST TIME ON THE DIAMOND
The Wolfpack split Sunday's doubleheader at Boston College, winning game one 12-2 in run-rule fashion in eight innings before dropping game two 8-7 in 10 innings. NC State's doubleheader split meant the Pack was unable to notch the series victory in Chestnut Hill as the then-No. 16 Eagles earned the series win with a 4-1 triumph in Friday's series opener. The Pack scored five runs in the sixth and six runs in the eighth in game one of Sunday's doubleheader, flipping the momentum behind Cannon Peebles' go-ahead three-run homer. Matt Willadsen exceled once again on the mound, pitching 6.0 innings while allowing just two runs (both unearned). In game two, NC State built a game-high five-run lead at 7-2 after the top of the sixth, but the Eagles stormed back with the game's final six runs to earn the 8-7 walk-off victory.
SCOUTING UNCG
UNCG (13-11, 2-1 SoCon) finished off a 3-1 week with a series win over Western Carolina on Sunday. After dropping game one of its first Southern Conference series of the season, the Spartans recorded a 5-4 walk-off win in 12 innings against WCU on Saturday before outslugging the Catamounts in an 11-8 win on Sunday. Zack Budzik paces the Spartans with a .357 batting average, while Kennedy Jones leads UNCG with a .535 slugging percentage, and 35 hits. UNCG was predicted to place third in the 2023 SoCon Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll with one first-place vote.
PUTTING UP CROOKED NUMBERS
The Wolfpack offense has scored runs in bunches this season, posting 58 multi-run innings through just 24 games (2.42 per game). NC State's single-game high for runs scored in one inning was seven runs in the bottom of the seventh against Radford. NC State's single-game high for the number of multi-run innings is five, scoring multiple runs in a game five times in three different matchups.
COZART ON A ROLL
Sophomore catcher Jacob Cozart has been on fire in ACC play, batting a team-high .556 while pacing all Wolfpack hitters in hits (15), doubles (five), RBI (nine), total bases (26) and on-base percentage (.639). Cozart's strong start to conference action has vaulted him into the team lead for batting average for the entire 2023 season at .403. Overall, Cozart leads all ACC batters with his .556 batting average and .639 on-base percentage.
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 is 2-1 against in-state opponents this season, earning road midweek victories at UNCG and UNCW. The Pack's sole nonconference loss this season came at home to Elon on March 14.
Since taking over the NC State baseball program in 1997, head coach Elliott Avent has led the Pack to a 347-172 (.669) record against in-state opponents.
#Pack9 | @NCStateBaseball
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