N.C. State (15-4, 2-2 ACC) exploded past the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-9, 0-4 ACC) Friday night at Gene Hooks Field, 12-6. The Wolfpack is looking to recover from its series loss to the Clemson Tigers last weekend.
Sophomore pitcher Carlos Rodon (2-2, 5.04 ERA) earned the victory for State, pitching six innings while allowing three runs on five hits and three walks. Rodon struck out eight Wake batters on the night, giving the Holly Springs native at least eight strikeouts in every start this season.
After freshman pitcher Will Gilbert’s abysmal zero-out sixth inning performance, senior pitcher Josh Easley pitched the final three innings for his first save of the season. Easley held the Deacons to two hits while striking out five batters.
Senior first baseman Tarran Senay propelled the team past its Piedmont Triad rival, going 5-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs, including a solo home run in the eighth inning.
Sophomore right fielder Jake Armstrong led the Pack in RBI with four. He finished 2-for-3 while reaching home plate twice.
After getting shut out for the first two innings, State drew first blood with a two-RBI double off of the bat of sophomore catcher Brett Austin, scoring sophomore second baseman Logan Ratledge and senior left fielder Bryan Adametz on the play.
After shutting Wake down in the half-inning that followed, the Pack scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Armstrong brought Senay and sophomore right fielder Jake Fincher home with a single. Adametz scored Armstrong on a single two plays later.
The Deacons responded in the bottom half of the fourth with a two-RBI single by Wake senior catcher Brett Armour, his only hit in four at bats on the night.
Senay hit an RBI single in the top of the fifth that scored senior designated hitter Brett Williams. Three batters later, Armstrong blasted a pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run. Senior third baseman Grant Clyde and Fincher also scored on the four-bagger.
The sixth inning featured another RBI base hit by Senay, bringing Austin to the plate. Senay would later score on a double from Clyde. State’s scoring concluded in the top of the eighth with the solo shot from Senay.
Gilbert entered the game to replace Rodon on the mound to start the bottom half of the sixth. Senior shortstop Matt Bergquist committed a throwing error that put a runner in scoring position. On the next play, Armstrong botched a routine fly ball that put runners on second and third with no outs. Another Bergquist error on the following play gave Wake its first run of the inning. An RBI single to left field brought home another run for the Deacs and a passed ball by Austin plated Wake’s final run of the contest.
The Deacons’ starter, redshirt senior pitcher Austin Stadler (3-2, 2.81 ERA), pitched five frames while surrendering nine runs, six of them earned, on 12 hits and two strikeouts. Wake sophomore pitcher Colin Egan threw for the remaining four innings, giving up three runs, all earned, on seven hits.
State finished with 19 hits but also recorded four errors in the field. Armstrong and Bergquist each had two mishaps on defense. Bergquist ended the game hitless in four trips to the plate.
The Pack will play the second game of the series against the Deacons on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm.
