As Wolfpack fans filed into their seats at the Doak after braving the heavy traffic from the Dreamville music festival just down the road, there was a surprise that none of them could have seen coming — a new leadoff hitter.
After going 3-3, reaching base five times and making a highlight-worthy catch in centerfield during NC State baseball’s 8-6 loss to Virginia the night prior, freshman center fielder Ty Head found himself as the Wolfpack’s number one hitter in Game 2 against the Cavaliers.
Head capitalized on this new opportunity as his two-RBI single in the second inning propelled NC State (20-11, 6-5 ACC) to its first lead in an eventual 9-2 victory over Virginia (17-12, 7-7 ACC) at Doak Field Saturday afternoon.
“He’s the best on-base hitter we have,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “He’s not afraid to take strikes. He’s not afraid to go to two strikes. He battles with two strikes, probably as well as anybody we have. Has tremendous confidence in itself.”
Head has earned the trust of his coach because of the body of work he has put together. Coming into this afternoon’s matchup, Head found himself fifth in the ACC and first on the team with a .508 on-base percentage. But Avent noted that it wasn’t just the rookie’s numbers he has been impressed with, but also the way he carries himself within the locker room.
“He leads the locker room every day with his attitude, enthusiasm, the way he practices, the way he loves to play,” Avent said. “But I should’ve done it a long time ago. He earned it.”
Even as a freshman, Head is putting himself on the radar of his teammates who are in the back stages of their collegiate careers, including senior shortstop Justin DeCriscio.
“That kid works super hard,” DeCriscio said. “He’s determined. … But as a young dude coming in here, the energy he brings to our team. It’s awesome.”
DeCriscio, as the only starting senior in the lineup, recognized today as an opportunity for him to join Head as an offensive leader. With a solo homerun in the second and an RBI groundout in the eighth, DeCriscio sparked the offense in its two-highest scoring innings as he tallied the Pack’s first run in each of those two frames.
After the first 10 pitches of the game, it seemed like the Wolfpack was going to need a big day from DeCriscio and Head to avoid losing the series. Starting sophomore pitcher Heath Andrews struggled with his command early on, throwing seven balls on his first 10 pitches while allowing the first two baserunners on.
But then Andrews settled in, getting a double play and pop out to get out of the inning, down just 1-0. From the second through the fifth inning, Andrews didn’t allow a hit as he attacked the zone, showcasing his ability to pitch for contact and allowing the defense behind him to make plays.
“I’m not a big strikeout guy,” Andrews said. “I like to fill up the zone and let them get out themselves.”
In the top of the sixth, Andrews was tested once again after he gave up an RBI-double that put runners on the corners with two outs. But like he had done all afternoon, Andrews forced a popout to get out of the inning with a 6-2 lead.
“I’m proud of myself for that,” Andrews said. “Competing in the zone and really pitching where I needed to in the big moments.”
Andrews threw a career-high 91 pitches in six innings against the Cavaliers while giving up just two runs on three hits, much to the delight of Avent. He quieted a Cavaliers’ offense that had put up a combined 52 runs across its last five games.
“He pitched great,” Avent said, “Pitched to contact, and thought he had a big-time slider working. And the two seam was working pretty good at times.”
Following what was only Andrews’ second outing of six innings or more this season, junior reliever Andrew Shaffner took over on the mound in hopes of continuing what Andrews had already started.
Shaffner exceeded what his predecessor on the mound had already done across the final three innings of the game. The right-hander did not allow another run and only gave up two hits while fanning five in the process.
With the young guns showing off at the Doak on Saturday, NC State finds itself on the cusp of its third ACC series win of the season. First pitch for the rubber match against Virginia is set for 3 p.m. Sunday.
