#Pack9 Shuts Out No. 2 Clemson to Secure Road Series Victory

Saturday, April 13

Clemson, S.C.

8 p.m.

NC State

20-12, 10-7

Clemson

28-6, 10-4

NC State

Clemson

#Pack9 Shuts Out No. 2 Clemson to Secure Road Series Victory

4/13/2024 11:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Shutout Win Snaps Clemson's 132-Game Streak of Not Being Shut Out

CLEMSON, S.C. – NC State secured a series victory over No. 2 Clemson with a wire-to-wire 4-0 victory on Saturday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, handing the Tigers their first loss on a Saturday this entire season. The shutout also snapped Clemson's 132-game streak without getting shut out.

NC State (20-12, 10-7 ACC) sealed the series win at Clemson (28-6, 10-4 ACC) for the Wolfpack's first series win over a top-five opponent since its Super Regional victory over No. 1 Arkansas from June 11-13, 2021. The Wolfpack has won five of its past six series at Clemson, including three straight dating back to the 2018 season.

NC State capitalized on four errors from the Tigers to plate three runs over the opening three frames. Alec Makarewicz's RBI double down the right-field line put the Wolfpack ahead 1-0 in the first. Jacob Cozart's RBI fielder's choice then doubled the Pack's lead to 2-0.

The Wolfpack increased its advantage to 3-0 when Hogue scored on a throwing error from Clemson second baseman Jarren Purify. Cozart ripped a double to advance Hogue to third base before an errant throw home skipped away from Tiger catcher Jacob Jarrell, allowing Hogue to advance home for the Wolfpack's third run of the night.

Makarewicz drove in his team-high 48^th run of the year with an RBI single in the fifth. Brandon Butterworth scored NC State's fourth run after leading off the inning with a single.

Sophomore southpaw Dominic Fritton turned in his best performance of the season, tossing a season-high 5.2 scoreless frames while allowing just three hits. Fritton fanned six batters while allowing just one walk.

NC State freshman reliever Jacob Dudan entered with two outs in the fifth with two runners on. After allowing a walk to the first batter, Dudan struck out Clemson shortstop Jacob Hinderleider on a 2-2 pitch to leave the bases loaded.

Derrick Smith, who notched the save in Friday's victory, logged his second save in as many nights with two scoreless frames to secure the series victory. Smith inherited two runners in the bottom of the eighth and did not allow a run to score, striking out all three batters he faced in the frame to send it to the ninth. He then struck out Clemson left fielder Will Taylor to cap off a Wolfpack win in the bottom of the ninth.

The Wolfpack's combined shutout of the second-ranked Tigers marked NC State's first shutout of a ranked opponent since an 11-0 win over No. 11 Louisville on April 1, 2023.

Fritton (2-3) earned the win, while Clemson starter Ethan Darden (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs (one earned) in nine innings on the mound.

UP NEXT
NC State concludes this weekend's series at Clemson on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Sunday's series finale will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.