Through the first two games of its series against No. 14 Louisville, NC State baseball starting pitchers have given up 14 runs and recorded just 17 outs.
In Game 1, junior starting pitcher Dominic Fritton allowed six runs in 2.2 innings, but his offense scored 13 runs for a 13-11 win. In the second game, the Cardinals blasted three home runs off sophomore starting pitcher Heath Andrews.
Unlike it did for Fritton, the Wolfpack’s (23-12, 8-6 ACC) offense couldn’t cover another poor performance on the mound as the Cardinals (26-8, 9-5 ACC) ran away with the game after jumping on Andrews in a 25-8 Wolfpack loss Saturday afternoon at Doak Field.
“Heath just didn’t have anything, but this guy’s been so great for us all year,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “As a matter of fact, these three starters have been as consistent as any three starters we’ve had at NC State in a long time; getting in some innings and leaving the game in good shape. But he just didn’t have it today.”
This type of offensive showing is routine for the Cardinals. They rank top 30 nationally in batting average, hits, triples, total runs, on-base percentage, stolen bases, runs per game and slugging percentage.
And Louisville usually does most of its damage early in the game, like it did against the Wolfpack. The Cardinals have now scored 128 runs in the first three innings this season and have scored 54 runs against starting pitchers in their last eight ACC contests, including the first two against the Wolfpack.
“That’s a good offensive ball club right there and they had a good day today,” Avent said. “It just got started wrong.”
It originally looked as if Andrews, who was coming off a quality start against Virginia, would quell the Cardinals’ offense. His first pitch was hit right back to him, and he threw to first base for a quick out. But then it all unraveled after that. Andrews gave up four runs in the first off two home runs, handing Louisville an early 4-0 lead.
He seemingly regained control in the second, needing only 10 pitches to get three outs. But in the third, he allowed four more runs as the Cardinals jumped out to an 8-0 lead.
Sophomore pitcher Cooper Consiglio assumed control to the same avail, allowing another eight runs in less than two innings.
Despite a three-run fourth, the Wolfpack had no counter for the Cardinals’ bats, cascading further into a 16-3 drubbing.
“We didn’t play well today, we didn’t pitch well today,” Avent said. “That’s just one of those days.”
Avent acknowledged the long game, enacting mass substitutions in order to focus on Sunday’s series closer. The Wolfpack will aim for a second-straight series win and its fourth of the season tomorrow.
NC State compiled eight hits in a lackluster offensive outing considering the opponent. In a normal ACC contest, that much contact would keep the Wolfpack competitive, like the 9-8 series-clincher against Virginia last week, where the offense totaled six hits.
But a season-worst pitching performance from Andrews, Consiglio and even sophomore pitcher Jaxon Lucas — who allowed seven runs of his own — led to the punishing result.
Regardless, the series — and the season — are far from over.
“This is an easy game to wash off,” Avent said. “I would much rather lose this game than beat Louisville [today] and have lost last night’s game. … These guys are 20 years old. This will help them figure out life a little bit, being able to bounce back. That’s the way this game is. That’s the way life is. We’ll see how they do tomorrow.”
The Wolfpack will look to respond in a crucial, series-closing Game 3 on Sunday at 1 p.m.
