The No. 19 N.C . State Wolfpack baseball team will take on the 49ers of UNC Charlotte at 6 p.m . Wednesday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park.
The Pack (26-12, 13-8 ACC) is coming off of a high offensive performance in its season series against Boston College. State lost an 11-10 bout Friday, but bounced back to sweep the Eagles in Saturday’s double-header.
The team racked up an astounding 36 runs and 47 hits during the series, a pair of statistics NCSU looks to keep up against Charlotte.
“I think our thing is defense,” freshman catcher Brett Austin said. “We’ve got unbelievable defense and I think last weekend we showed we could hit a little bit. So if we pitch well [and] hit well, it should go good for us.
Charlotte (17-22, 6-9 A-10) hasn’t had the same level of success as the Wolfpack this season, but State head coach Elliott Avent isn’t counting them out. Coach Avent stated the 49ers were the preseason favorite in the Atlantic-10 and their record shouldn’t be an indication of how well the team can play.
“It’s going to be a competitive game,” Avent said. “They’re very, very good and well coached and we’re just looking to get better by playing them.”
The last time the Pack faced the Niners was in the 2007 NCAA Regionals in Columbia, S.C . Charlotte defeated the Pack twice during the regional, eliminating State from the postseason.
Although the Wolfpack holds a 20-7 all-time advantage over Charlotte, the 49ers have taken the last three matchups. The last time the two teams met in the regular season was in Charlotte during the 2002 season, which was the first loss of the current losing streak for the Pack.
After Wednesday’s game, State will stay at home for a three-game series against ACC rival Duke.
Like the Niners , the Blue Devils (16-26, 7-14 ACC) have had an underwhelming season, as well. However, Duke defeated UNCC Tuesday in Charlotte and took two out of three games from ACC foe No. 25 Virginia this past weekend.
Redshirt senior outfielder Ryan Matthews states the Pack isn’t looking to take anyone lightly and the team is taking things one game at a time.
“We’re just trying to keep it rolling,” Matthews said. “I felt we had a pretty good day overall with the two wins Saturday. Everybody is really playing together. Ultimately, we’re just trying to keep it rolling in ACC play. That’s most important.”
