The Wolfpack needed a win, and it was freshman catcher Patrick Bailey who helped deliver it offensively.
Bailey and his battery mate, senior pitcher Brian Brown who tossed a complete game, stole the show Saturday in an elimination game between the NC State baseball team and Northeastern at Doak Field, blasting two home runs and driving in five runs in a 9-3 win for Pack in the Raleigh Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
With his first homer of the day, a two-run, two-out blast to dead center in the first inning, Bailey tied the NC State record for home runs by a freshman with 12.
“It was nice to get going early today,” senior center fielder Josh McLain said. “We wanted to get ahead early, that’s what our approach was all day. I got on base, and then he hit that home run. I knew that was going to be the spark.”
Bailey would break that record in the fifth inning on a three-run jack to left field that blew the game wide open for the Wolfpack, putting NC State up 9-1.
“I definitely never imagined that,” Bailey said. “It’s an honor. It’s very cool. I just came in and tried to do what got me here.”
Bailey took the starting reigns behind the plate early in the season, and hasn’t shied away from the big moment this season. Bailey hit a two-run, second-inning homer against rival UNC-Chapel Hill in front of a large crowd at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in April.
In the Pack’s return to the DBAP for the ACC Tournament, Bailey homered again in the Wolfpack’s opening game against Virginia. Six of Bailey’s 13 homers have come in either ACC or postseason play, not including his one against the Tar Heels in Durham in a non-conference matchup. He also hit two during an otherwise forgetful series for the Wolfpack against UNC.
“It’s always fun playing in these types of atmospheres with all the fans,” Bailey said. “We always get great crowds. It’s always fun to try and do what I’ve been doing all year and get a pitch I can hit.”
Bailey’s bat has been a crucial piece of NC State’s offensive attack this season, and at .320 his batting average is second-best on the team to only McLain, who leads the ACC in hits. Bailey also sports a staggering 1.027 on-base plus slugging percentage, best on the Wolfpack.
While his bat has helped to make him one of the most impressive freshmen in the country, he was awarded ACC Freshman of the Year, there is much more to Bailey’s game behind the plate. With just 10 passed balls on the season, Bailey has been as good of a backstop as you’re going to find in college baseball.
His ability to handle the pitching staff is also something that stands out about Bailey. As a team, the Wolfpack has an ERA of 3.62, its best mark since 2015 and the fourth best in the ACC this season.
A switch-hitting power threat, who is defensively sound behind the plate makes Bailey a special player, and after one of the best freshman seasons in program history, Bailey could be someone that starts to garner major national attention in years to come.
Freshman catcher Patrick Bailey celebrates with senior infielder Shane Shepard after hitting a home run against Northeastern on Saturday at Doak Field. The Wolfpack beat Northeastern 9-3.
