John Joyner/Technician
Junior outfielder Brett Austin sprints for second base during the first game of the Wolfpack's three-game series against Appalachian State at Doak Field Friday. Austin went one-for-two at the plate, scoring three runs and drawing two walks as the No. 6 Wolfpack defeated the Mountaineers, 6-5.
N.C. State defeated Appalachian State, 7-0, behind a strong pitching performance from junior pitcher Logan Jernigan and a big day at the plate by junior centerfielder Jake Fincher. Jernigan (1-0 overall, 2.59 ERA) pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out seven.
The junior right-hander was dominant, showing improved control from his first start against Canisius, an 11-4 Wolfpack win in which Jernigan walked five and only lasted four innings.
Jernigan appeared to be heading towards the same fate early on Saturday, as he allowed a single and two walks to load the bases with two outs in the first inning. However, the righty was able to escape the threat by inducing an inning ending groundout.
“I was very impressed with Jernigan today,” Wolfpack head coach Elliott Avent said. “He had a rocky first inning and with the way he settled down, I was very impressed with him. It was night and day compared to his first start.”
N.C. State (5-1) would get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning thanks to junior shortstop Trea Turner’s speed and miscues from the Mountaineers. After Turner walked, he advanced to second on a balk by App State’s senior starting pitcher Tyler Moore (0-2 overall, 7.50 ERA). Later in the at-bat, Turner bolted for third and took home when the catcher’s throw sailed into left field.
The Wolfpack struck again in the second inning, as the Mountaineers (0-6) continued their poor defensive play. Junior second baseman Logan Ratledge started the inning with a routine groundball to third, which App State senior third baseman William Head bobbled, allowing Ratledge to reach base.
After Moore hit freshman third baseman Andrew Knizner with a pitch, freshman right fielder Garrett Suggs legged out an infield single to load the bases with two outs for junior catcher Brett Austin. Austin lined the first pitch he saw into right field, scoring Ratledge from second, but the throw from right field nailed Knizner at the plate.
In the fourth, Fincher got involved at the plate, earning an RBI when his infield single brought home Knizner to stretch the Wolfpack’s lead to 3-0. Turner’s sacrifice fly in the next at-bat brought N.C. State’s lead to four.
Fincher continued his hot hitting in the sixth, doubling to right center to drive in two more State runners. Fincher finished the game two-for-four at the plate with three RBIs and a stolen base.
“Our focus on the field was ten times better than yesterday; we were a completely different team,” Fincher said. “I thought we came out with a better approach at the plate.”
Jernigan did the rest for the Pack, stifling the Mountaineers’ hitters and setting them down one after another. Avent would relieve Jernigan in the seventh, opting for sophomore right-hander John Olczak from the bullpen.
Olczak continued where Jernigan left off, striking out the side in the seventh and keeping the Mountaineers off balance over the final three innings. Olczak earned his first save of the season, allowing no hits and striking out four batters.
“We played better today,” Avent said. “We were terrible yesterday and we were good today. I was very impressed with the way Olczak closed the game.”
With the win, N.C. State takes the second game of the series and gives the Wolfpack a chance to sweep the Mountaineers on Sunday. For the Wolfpack, the upcoming game will be an opportunity to gain its sixth consecutive win and continue building momentum in non-conference play.
For the Mountaineers, it will be a chance to salvage one game in Raleigh, after handing the first two to the Pack through porous defense. The Mountaineers finished the game with five errors, after tallying four in Friday night’s game. Only five of N.C. State’s thirteen runs have been earned over the past two games.
“When one error happens it all just escalates, and the next thing [you know] you’re up 3-0 and it’s a whole new game,” Fincher said. “Errors have definitely made a difference in the games, for sure.”
Sophomore lefthander Brad Stone (1-0, 6.75 ERA) is projected to start against the Mountaineers’ junior lefthander Jeffrey Springs (0-0, 5.40 ERA) in the final game of the three-game series.