The NC State baseball team evened the series against Virginia Tech with a dominating 14-2 victory on Friday night at English Field in Blacksburg, Virginia.
It was an all-around, dominating team effort in a good bounceback effort for the Pack (22-5, 8-3), after dropping game one to the Hokies (11-14, 5-6) on Thursday night. Graduate starting pitcher Johnny Piedmonte didn’t allow a baserunner until the fifth inning, and didn’t allow a hit until the seventh inning.
The Wolfpack got off to a fast start. Senior outfielder Josh McLain and junior outfielder Brett Kinneman singled to start the game. Sophomore shortstop Will Wilson launched a no-doubter, three-run home run to left center field to get the Pack offense off and rolling.
Senior outfielder Brock Deatherage added an RBI single in the third. Kinneman hit a two-run double in the fourth. Freshman infielder David Vazquez and redshirt sophomore infielder Dillon Cooper collected an RBI each in the fifth. McLain drove home two with a single in the seventh and Freshman infielder JT Jarrett scored on an error in the seventh as well.
Deatherage crushed his fifth home run of the season to lead off the eighth. McLain drove home two more with a double to finish the NC State scoring.
While it was a balanced effort offensively, the Pack’s spectacular outfield carried the load. Deatherage went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. McLain was 3 for 6 with four RBIs and two runs. Kinneman had two hits, two runs and two RBIs. The Wolfpack had 17 total hits.
As excellent as the offense was, Piedmonte may have been the player of the game. He moved to 4-0 on the season, allowing one run on two hits, striking out six while walking two. Freshman Evan Justice pitched the final two innings and allowed one run on three hits. He also struck out three.
Luke Scherzer (1-2) got the start for the Hokies and gave up four runs in 2.1 innings. The only Virginia Tech pitcher who didn’t allow a run was the last one of the day, Paul Hall Jr., who pitched the final inning and two-thirds.
The rubber match of the series will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday at English Field at Union Park in Blacksburg, VA. Senior Brian Brown will get the start for the Wolfpack, looking to take the fourth straight series to open ACC play.
Will Wilson, a sophomore infielder, prepares to bat against UNC-Charlotte in Doak Field at Dail Park on Wednesday, Feb 21. The Wolfpack beat the 49ers 9-6 for its fourth win this season.
