Tuesday, February 18
Raleigh, NC
3 p.m.
NC State
vs
Liberty
No. 12 NC State Takes on Liberty in Midweek Clash
2/17/2025 4:42:00 PM | Baseball
RALEIGH, NC – After an Opening weekend sweep of Fordham, 12th-ranked NC State baseball returns to The Doak for a midweek clash with Liberty on Tuesday, February 18th, at 3 p.m. and streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Meeting for the ninth time in program history, the Wolfpack hold a 5-3 record against the visiting Flames. The Wolfpack's first win in the series came in the first meeting of the two programs in 1987 under head coach Sam Esposito after NC State beat Liberty 14-1. This will be the first game between the two schools in 16 years. The last meeting came in 2009, seeing the Flames victorious 17-5.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. RHP Dylan Mathiesen (LIB)
After missing the 2024 season due to injury, Willadsen made his long-awaited return to the mound in game three against Fordham, finishing one inning with three strikeouts. In his first outing in 623 days, he threw 17 pitches, with 12 of them being strikes despite a first-pitch home run.
Willadsen is now in line to make his first start of the season and first since June 3rd, 2023. Willadsen has started 45 games before Tuesday's start and is 16-12 in his Wolfpack career with a 4.44 ERA.
The Wolfpack opened its 2025 campaign with an opening weekend sweep of Fordham. Winning 11-1, 12-2, and 19-6, each of the Wolfpack's victories was decided by run rule.
Nine Wolfpack newcomers debuted throughout opening weekend, with six starting and five playing their first career game at the D1 level.
Transfer Chris McHugh led the Wolfpack, hitting .556 with five hits, seven runs, six RBIs, and a home run in his first at-bat with the Wolfpack.
Matt Ossenfort also hit a home run in his first at-bat with NC State. OF Brayden Fraasman totaled five hits, including a double and a home run, to finish with 6 RBIs on the weekend. Ryan Jaros started the third game at third base and racked up two hits and an RBI in his first game with NC State.
Ryder Woodson and Brandon Novy recorded their first collegiate hits, and Jet Gilliam came on defensively for his first time in a Wolfpack uniform.
Andrew Shaffner and Heath Andrews got their first collegiate wins during the opening weekend. Shaffner came on in relief in game one, pitched 3.2 innings, and only allowed three hits and no runs. In his second career start, Andrews pitched a career-best 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and five strikeouts, which is also a career-high.
Meeting for the ninth time in program history, the Wolfpack hold a 5-3 record against the visiting Flames. The Wolfpack's first win in the series came in the first meeting of the two programs in 1987 under head coach Sam Esposito after NC State beat Liberty 14-1. This will be the first game between the two schools in 16 years. The last meeting came in 2009, seeing the Flames victorious 17-5.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. RHP Dylan Mathiesen (LIB)
After missing the 2024 season due to injury, Willadsen made his long-awaited return to the mound in game three against Fordham, finishing one inning with three strikeouts. In his first outing in 623 days, he threw 17 pitches, with 12 of them being strikes despite a first-pitch home run.
Willadsen is now in line to make his first start of the season and first since June 3rd, 2023. Willadsen has started 45 games before Tuesday's start and is 16-12 in his Wolfpack career with a 4.44 ERA.
The Wolfpack opened its 2025 campaign with an opening weekend sweep of Fordham. Winning 11-1, 12-2, and 19-6, each of the Wolfpack's victories was decided by run rule.
Nine Wolfpack newcomers debuted throughout opening weekend, with six starting and five playing their first career game at the D1 level.
Transfer Chris McHugh led the Wolfpack, hitting .556 with five hits, seven runs, six RBIs, and a home run in his first at-bat with the Wolfpack.
Matt Ossenfort also hit a home run in his first at-bat with NC State. OF Brayden Fraasman totaled five hits, including a double and a home run, to finish with 6 RBIs on the weekend. Ryan Jaros started the third game at third base and racked up two hits and an RBI in his first game with NC State.
Ryder Woodson and Brandon Novy recorded their first collegiate hits, and Jet Gilliam came on defensively for his first time in a Wolfpack uniform.
Andrew Shaffner and Heath Andrews got their first collegiate wins during the opening weekend. Shaffner came on in relief in game one, pitched 3.2 innings, and only allowed three hits and no runs. In his second career start, Andrews pitched a career-best 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and five strikeouts, which is also a career-high.
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