The Pack returned to winning ways after a blowout 14-2 win against Elon University at Doak Field Wednesday.
State (22-9, 9-6 ACC) entered the game after dropping a weekend series at Maryland.
The Phoenix (19-16, 12-6 SoCon ) came to Raleigh after losing four of their last five games. State and Elon met earlier in the season at Elon , a game the Pack won 8-1.
Elon and State failed to score in the first inning after recording only two hits. Despite the Phoenix earning its first base at the top of the second, it was the Pack who opened the scoring following RBIs by freshman third baseman Trea Turner and junior shortstop Chris Diaz.
After a dry third, the Pack seized the initiative after racing to a 7-0 lead at the bottom of the fourth courtesy of five runs on five hits. Junior left fielder Tarran Senay and catcher Danny Canela both accounted for two RBIs each.
That inning also saw Turner break the single season record for most stolen bases. Turner ended the game with 31 total stolen bases on the season.
Over the next two and a half innings, the Pack looked like it would be content with the position they had put themselves in with not much happening on the diamond as the Phoenix extended their scoreless streak to seven innings.
The bottom of the seventh proved to be one of the most exciting innings fans would experience all season as Turner tripled to left center with junior second basemen Matt Bergquist , junior first baseman Grant Clyde and freshman center fielder Logan Ratledge all running home, taking Turner’s tally of RBIs to four for the night.
Turner, senior John Gianis , redshirt senior Ryan Matthews and Senay all scored runs as Diaz and Ratledge both recorded RBIs.
Elon finally put its first runs on the board with a home run from Ryan Kinsella at the top of the eighth, but in the end, the target proved out of reach for the Phoenix. The Pack recorded the biggest victory of the season in two hours and 53 minutes.
Head coach Elliot Avent was proud of his team and felt the scoreline didn’t justify the level of competition they went up against.
“I thought we played extremely well, especially coming off a weekend where I thought we didn’t play exceptionally well,” Avent said. “I thought we came out and played with great passion and great energy. That’s a very good team and looking at the score you can’t say that but I have played Elon since I have been here.
“They are a very good team, a very good-coached team; they do things the right way so I am glad the way we played today.”
Avent also praised Turner for breaking the record for most stolen bases in a season. Turner currently leads the NCAA in stolen bases.
“He’s played well since he has been here,” Avent said. “He does a very good job in the running game, he loves the game, he plays it hard and I congratulate him for breaking the record.”
Turner, who recorded a game-leading three hits along with four RBIs claimed he just tried to keep things simple.
“[I was] not trying to do much in too many different situations,” Turner said. “When I got on the first time I kind of was a little too anxious about the stolen base and I made a dumb mistake and got picked off, but the rest of the game I was trying to stay calm and just do what I do and not do anything big.”
The Pack next takes on Clemson in a three-game series starting this Friday in South Carolina.
