The N.C. State baseball team swept Appalachian State in its three-game series, which started on Friday at Doak Field in Raleigh. The Wolfpack’s victories came thanks to gritty pitching performances, clutch hitting and a porous defense by the Mountaineers.

The Wolfpack completed its sweep of the Mountaineers with a 3-1 victory on Sunday afternoon. The win was accentuated by strong pitching by sophomore Brad Stone (six IP, two hits, 0 ER) and junior Eric Peterson (three IP, two hits, one ER). Junior first baseman Jake Armstrong also played a massive role in the win, coming up clutch in the bottom of the eighth inning. Armstrong’s go-ahead, two-run homerun put the Pack in the lead for good against App on Sunday.

Both pitchers dominated the early innings of Sunday’s game, as Stone and Mountaineer junior Jeffrey Springs (5.2 IP, four hits, one ER) traded scoreless inning for scoreless inning. 

“[Stone] was fabulous,” head coach Elliott Avent said. “He battled and just made his pitches even though he probably didn’t have his best stuff.”

In the sixth inning, the Wolfpack finally broke through against Springs. The southpaw hit freshman third baseman Andrew Knizner with a pitch. Then, on a 3-2 count, Armstrong laced a double into the gap in left center field, hitting in Knizner from first base. 

The Mountaineers answered in the top of the seventh with two singles to begin the inning against Peterson, who relieved Stone after only 70 pitches. But Peterson would rebound and retire the next two hitters. However, a wild pitch allowed App’s sophomore centerfielder Jaylin Davis to bolt home and tie the game at 1-1.

The Wolfpack dealt the fatal blow to the Mountaineers in the eighth inning. Junior outfielder Bubby Riley drew a walk and proceeded to steal second base. That’s when Armstrong struck, blasting his two-run homer over the left-field wall to give N.C. State a 3-1 lead.

“[Armstrong] had a really good day for us,” Avent said. “We need Jake to be good. We had a talk before the game, and he knows that, but the toughness he showed today was a good sign for us.”

Peterson locked down App’s batters in the ninth inning, earning the save and shutting the door on any possibility of the Mountaineers taking a game in Raleigh. 

“That’s a real good baseball team,” Avent said. “I don’t know who made their schedule but they are going to win a lot of games this year. Our pitching is going to set the table for us this year. I still don’t think we are going 55-1.”

On Friday, the Wolfpack slipped past the Mountaineers with a 6-5 win, as junior pitcher Carlos Rodon (1-1 overall, 2.86 ERA) earned his first victory of the season. The Holly Springs native had an exceptional day at the mound, despite hanging a slider in the eighth inning, allowing Davis to knock a three-run homer out of Doak Field.

N.C. State’s batting order found its groove early on Friday, with junior catcher Brett Austin scoring two runs by the third inning. Riley also had a big day at the plate, going two for four and recording two doubles and two RBIs.

But the Mountaineers answered quickly, capitalizing on errors by the Wolfpack’s defense. An error by junior infielder Trea Turner allowed Mountaineer senior third baseman William Head to get on base in the top of the third. Davis then laced a single to score Head and senior outfielder Preston Troutman. Davis was responsible for all of App State’s runs scored on Friday, totaling five RBIs on the afternoon.

But the Wolfpack held on to its lead after Davis’ home run in the eighth inning, with senior pitchers Andrew Woeck and D.J. Thomas closing out App on Friday.

Saturday’s game saw a much-improved performance from the Wolfpack, as it shut out the Mountaineers, 7-0. Junior pitcher Logan Jernigan (1-0 overall, 1.80 ERA) led his team to a dominating win. The junior right-hander put in a commanding performance, allowing two hits and recording seven strikeouts in six innings of work.

Junior center fielder Jake Fincher led the Wolfpack offensively, going two for four with three RBIs on Saturday. 

App State’s performance was characterized by a mediocre defensive effort, accruing five errors in the blowout, which the Wolfpack’s offense made sure to capitalize on.

Jernigan was relieved in the seventh inning by sophomore pitcher John Olczak, who eased the Wolfpack throughout the final three innings. Olczak did not allow a single hit and recorded four strikeouts to close out Saturday’s contest.