N.C. State baseball will look to continue its hot streak and build off the momentum of three straight wins in the team’s series against Wake Forest this weekend. The Wolfpack (12-3, 2-1) is ranked 19th in the country, according to the Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll, and will face tough competition in the Demon Deacons (16-4, 3-0) who are ranked 24th .
The Pack can feel confident in its bats heading into the ACC series this weekend, with the team’s batting production second only to Virginia in the conference. It also has three players with stat lines of slugging percentages over .500 and at least 11 RBI’s: junior infielder Chris Diaz (.547 and 21 RBI), senior outfielder Ryan Mathews (.612 and 11 RBI), and senior infielder Andrew Ciencin (.527 and 14 RBI).
However, dominant pitching has guided State thus far as the staff features three pitchers with a sub-1.50 ERA and is bolstered by freshman left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon’s 10.33 strikeouts per game, which is fourth best in the conference. Freshman right-handed pitcher Logan Jernigan has been able to keep opposing batters off the base paths, sustaining an opponent batting average of .082, which is by far the best in the ACC.
“Any ACC opponent will be tough, so we will have to be ready,” senior right-handed pitcher Vance Williams said. “Coming off a good weekend against Georgia Tech and a win at Elon is big, and we’re just going to come in with the same mindset. We are going to keep bringing our game.”
The Deacs currently sit atop the Atlantic Division, which means that the Pack sweeping this series would move them into first place and tied with Florida State. State was able to take last season’s series with ease, winning two of three games. However, Wake comes to Raleigh on the force of a 14-game win streak, making this year’s matchup slightly more daunting.
But this doesn’t shake the composed mindset of the team, or at least of freshman infielder Trea Turner.
“We are going to approach everybody the same, whether they are ranked first or 100th,” Turner said, “As long as the pitchers keep throwing K’s and we take what Wake’s pitchers give us at the plate, we will be fine.”
The St. Baldrick’s Day fundraiser will highlight Saturday’s game, as the BaseBald event will raise money for the foundation that helps childhood cancer patients.
The team will wear special green uniforms to commemorate the occasion and fans and players from both teams will have their heads shaved after the game.
The Wolfpack will play at Doak Field at Dail Park on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.
