NC State baseball weekend recap: Much-needed series win

If NC State baseball is going to make the NCAA Tournament, the Pack needs to make sure it is involved in the ACC Tourney first. And to that end, this weekend’s series at Notre Dame was vital on both counts.

The Wolfpack squandered a chance in the series opener Thursday, coughing up a 6-4 lead in the sixth by giving up 3 runs. After sophomore second baseman Payton Green tied the contest with a solo blast in the seventh, Notre Dame’s Vinny Martinez homered to opposite field with a runner on to give the Irish a 9-7 lead in the bottom of the eight.

NC State went down in order in the ninth to fall in a game mired by costly Wolfpack errors, including base-running gaffes that turned what should have been bases loaded and no outs scenario in the fourth into an improbable double play.

However, the Pack rebounded behind strong pitching to take the next two games of the series.

On Friday, junior Matt Willadsen and fifth-year senior Baker Nelson combined on a 6-hit, 1-run performance in a 5-1 NC State win. A day later, redshirt junior Sam Highfill and freshman Dominic Fritton combined to allow just 1 run on 5 hits in a 6-1 Pack triumph.

NC State baseball improved to 31-15 overall on the season, including 10-13 in the ACC.

At The Plate For NC State Baseball

The Wolfpack received a lot of contributions from different players with the bat over the weekend, but the middle infield stood out.

The aforementioned Green went 5 for 11 at the plate with a pair of homers and a double, scoring 4 runs and driving in five. He additionally stole a base and drew a walk. Junior shortstop Kalae Harrison went 3 for 7 with 5 walks drawn. He also homered and stole a base. Harrison scored 3 runs and had 2 RBI.

Third baseman LuJames Groover III went 5 for 13 with a homer and a double and also walked once. He scored 2 runs and had 4 RBI.

Additionally, sophomore catcher Jacob Cozart homered this weekend, while freshman designated hitter Cannon Peebles and sophomore left fielder Will Marcy hit safely in all 3 contests.

On The Mound

The last time NC State pitching held the opposition to a single run or less prior to the last 2 games vs. Notre Dame was a 10-0 shutout win over Louisville on April 1.

On Saturday, Willadsen was clutch, going 6.2 innings while throwing 117 pitches to hold Notre Dame to 6 hits and 1 earned run. He walked three and struck out nine. Nelson then retired 7 of 8 batters he faced to close out the win, surrendering just 1 walk.

Highfill looked more comfortable in returning to his familiar starting role after being tried much of the year as a high leverage, multi-inning reliever. Against Notre Dame, Highfill went 5.0 innings, giving up 3 hits and an earned run while walking a pair and fanning four. Fritton then shut down the Irish over 4.0 innings, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks without giving up a run and striking out two.

ACC Standings And Weekend Results

Atlantic Division

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record
Wake Forest	39-7	18-5
Clemson	31-17	14-10
Boston College	30-16	14-13
Notre Dame	26-19	14-13
NC State	31-15	10-13
Louisville	29-18	9-15
Florida State	18-28	6-18

Coastal Division

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record
Duke	32-13	14-9
Miami	31-16	14-10
Virginia	37-11	13-11
North Carolina	29-17	11-11
Virginia Tech	28-16	11-12
Georgia Tech	28-19	10-14
Pittsburgh	21-24	9-13

Weekend Series Results:

NC State 2, Notre Dame 1

Clemson 3, Louisville 0

Georgia Tech 2, Pittsburgh 1

Wake Forest 2, Boston College 1

Florida State 3, Mercer 0

Miami 3, Presbyterian 0

Virginia Tech 2, Bowling Green 0

NC State Baseball In The Polls

USA Today Sports baseball coaches: Receiving votes (previously receiving votes)

Collegiate Baseball: Unranked (previously unranked)

Perfect Game: Unranked (previously unranked)

D1Baseball.com: Unranked (previously unranked)

Baseball America: Unranked (previously unranked)

NCBWA: Not released yet (previously unranked)

Midweek Preview For NC State Baseball

NC State baseball has one last regular season non-conference game on the slate. That is Tuesday with a 6 p.m., first pitch against Richmond.

The Spiders are 21-24 overall and 10-7 in the Atlantic 10. Richmond boasts a lineup that is capable of hitting. In 11 of the 21 wins, they have scored double digit runs, and 12 times overall this year has crossed home at least 10 times in a game.

However, Richmond has struggled against higher level of competition. The season began on the road getting swept by Alabama by a combined score of 39-5. Virginia beat Richmond at home, 18-0, on April 11.

Richmond is 2-8 in midweek games, and the only wins came over Merrimack in back-to-back days, March 7 and 8, at home. In 7 of those 10 games, the opponent has scored at least 10 runs, including the past five in a row.