North Carolina State University Athletics
Saturday, April 27
Raleigh, N.C.
3 p.m.
NC State
24-16
9
vs
3
Ball State
25-17-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
3
9
1
NC State
0
3
1
0
3
0
2
0
X
9
11
1
#Pack9 Secures Series Victory With 9-3 Win Over Ball State
4/27/2024 7:19:00 PM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. – The No. 21 NC State baseball team secured a series victory in Saturday's 9-3 win over Ball State (25-17-1) at Doak Field at Dail Park.
NC State (24-16) struck first for the second straight game when Alec Makarewicz scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0 Wolfpack in the second. Eli Serrano III then extended the Wolfpack's lead to 3-0 in the same inning with a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle. Back-to-back walks with two outs in the inning kept the rally alive before Serrano III's sharp single extended the Pack's lead.
Jacob Cozart smacked his fifth homer in his past six games to extend the Wolfpack's lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third. Cozart's no-doubter to right field marked his 11th home run of the season, moving him into second place on the roster for homers this season.
The Wolfpack added three runs in the fifth to stretch its advantage to 7-0. Makarewicz and Chase Nixon each logged RBI efforts in the inning.
A solo homer from Hunter Dobbins in the sixth and an inside the park homer from Houston King trimmed the Wolfpack's lead to 7-2 heading to the seventh-inning stretch. Chase Nixon dropped in a two-RBI double to restore the Pack's seven-run advantage at 9-2 in the bottom of the seventh.
King's RBI single in the eighth cut the score to its final margin at 9-3 in the eighth.
Southpaw starting pitcher Dominic Fritton (3-3) dominated Ball State hitters over 5.2 innings pitched, allowing just four hits with four strikeouts. Fritton faced the minimum twice as he recorded his third straight outing with five innings pitched or more. The sophomore left-hander is 2-0 over his past three starts and has allowed one run or less in both of those pitching victories.
Jaxon Lucas and Shane Van Dam combined to record the final 10 outs. Van Dam and Lucas combined to tally four strikeouts while allowing just one walk in relief.
Ball State starting pitcher Keegan Johnson (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs on six hits. For the second straight game, the Wolfpack offense struck out just twice.
UP NEXT
NC State baseball and The V Foundation are teaming up to raise awareness and funds for the fight against pediatric cancer. In Sunday's series finale against Ball State, the Wolfpack will host its inaugural "Victory Over Cancer Game" with support from #PackPro Trea Turner's fund through The V Foundation. NC State will wear special gold uniforms to honor the occasion and will be inviting local children afflicted by cancer and their families to The Doak prior to first pitch. Head coach Elliott Avent, along with help from the entire Pack9 roster, have helped make Sunday's inaugural Victory Over Cancer Game possible. For more information or to donate in support of Sunday's event, please visit http://v.org/turner.
Sunday's series finale will stream live on ACC Network Extra. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
NC State (24-16) struck first for the second straight game when Alec Makarewicz scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0 Wolfpack in the second. Eli Serrano III then extended the Wolfpack's lead to 3-0 in the same inning with a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle. Back-to-back walks with two outs in the inning kept the rally alive before Serrano III's sharp single extended the Pack's lead.
Jacob Cozart smacked his fifth homer in his past six games to extend the Wolfpack's lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third. Cozart's no-doubter to right field marked his 11th home run of the season, moving him into second place on the roster for homers this season.
The Wolfpack added three runs in the fifth to stretch its advantage to 7-0. Makarewicz and Chase Nixon each logged RBI efforts in the inning.
A solo homer from Hunter Dobbins in the sixth and an inside the park homer from Houston King trimmed the Wolfpack's lead to 7-2 heading to the seventh-inning stretch. Chase Nixon dropped in a two-RBI double to restore the Pack's seven-run advantage at 9-2 in the bottom of the seventh.
King's RBI single in the eighth cut the score to its final margin at 9-3 in the eighth.
Southpaw starting pitcher Dominic Fritton (3-3) dominated Ball State hitters over 5.2 innings pitched, allowing just four hits with four strikeouts. Fritton faced the minimum twice as he recorded his third straight outing with five innings pitched or more. The sophomore left-hander is 2-0 over his past three starts and has allowed one run or less in both of those pitching victories.
Jaxon Lucas and Shane Van Dam combined to record the final 10 outs. Van Dam and Lucas combined to tally four strikeouts while allowing just one walk in relief.
Ball State starting pitcher Keegan Johnson (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs on six hits. For the second straight game, the Wolfpack offense struck out just twice.
UP NEXT
NC State baseball and The V Foundation are teaming up to raise awareness and funds for the fight against pediatric cancer. In Sunday's series finale against Ball State, the Wolfpack will host its inaugural "Victory Over Cancer Game" with support from #PackPro Trea Turner's fund through The V Foundation. NC State will wear special gold uniforms to honor the occasion and will be inviting local children afflicted by cancer and their families to The Doak prior to first pitch. Head coach Elliott Avent, along with help from the entire Pack9 roster, have helped make Sunday's inaugural Victory Over Cancer Game possible. For more information or to donate in support of Sunday's event, please visit http://v.org/turner.
Sunday's series finale will stream live on ACC Network Extra. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fritton, Dominic (3-3)
L: Keegan Johnson (6-1)
Batting:
2B: Hunter Dobbins 1 ; Nick Gregory 1
HR: Hunter Dobbins 1 ; Houston King 1
RBI: Hunter Dobbins 1 ; Houston King 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hunter Dobbins 1 ; Grant Miller 1 ; Houston King 1
CS: Decker Scheffler 1
Batting:
2B: Nixon, Chase 1 ; Heavner, Matt 1
HR: Cozart, Jacob 1
RBI: Serrano III, Eli 2 ; Makarewicz, Alec 1 ; Cozart, Jacob 1 ; Nixon, Chase 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Hogue, Josh 1 ; Makarewicz, Alec 1 ; Cozart, Jacob 2 ; Butterworth, Brandon 2 ; Nixon, Luke 2 ; Nixon, Chase 1
SB: Butterworth, Brandon 1 ; Nixon, Luke 1
CS: Nixon, Chase 1
HBP: Heavner, Matt 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP/INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
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