Hot bats from both senior outfielder Matt Camp and sophomore second baseman Ramon Corona along with hotter pitching from redshirt sophomore Eryk McConnell helped N.C. State take the series from Wake Forest with a 17-2 rout Sunday afternoon at Doak Field.
The Wolfpack (27-9, 10-5) hitters exploded for 17 runs on 19 hits, and Corona set a career high with five hits while tying another career high with 5 RBI and scoring two runs. Camp also tied a career high with four hits while scoring three runs and bringing in one RBI.
Coach Elliott Avent was pleased with the Wolfpack’s overall performance.
“We really played well today,” Avent said. “You talk about offense because we got a lot of hits, but also McConnell gave us a chance and the plays we made defensively around the plate. We have a chance if we make plays around the plate.”
McConnell pitched seven strong scoreless innings for the Pack, allowing only three hits, striking out four and giving up two walks. He received a standing ovation after Avent approached him on the mound before the start of the eighth inning.
“It was really big for our staff today,” McConnell said. “I was moving my fastball in and out today, and that was the key to my success. I was able to locate my fastball inside, my fastball outside whenever I want.”
The Pack blew the game wide open in the seventh inning when the Pack combined for seven runs on eight hits fueled by a three-run homerun by senior outfielder Brian Aragon and a solo shot from junior designated hitter Jon Still, both over the right field wall. After hitting a single to start off the inning, Camp hit another single to bring home freshman pinch runner Drew Martin. The inning ended when Corona also hit his second single of the inning to bring home both junior shortstop Jonathan Diaz and junior catcher Chris Mangum before being tagged out near first base.
Camp said he takes to heart the typical role of a lead-off batter.
“My main goal is to get on,” Camp said. “We have a tough lineup for any pitcher, and the main goal is to get on and get some runs.”
The Pack got on the board first when Corona hit a single off of Deacons starter Justin Keadle to bring home Camp. The Pack continued their hot hitting in the bottom of the third when first baseman Aaron Bates delivered a two-RBI single to drive home Camp and Corona.
State would score five unearned runs off of four Wake Forest (24-11, 9-6) errors, including two from Deacons third baseman Matt Antonelli. An error by Keadle in the fourth inning brought home Mangum, and Corona would later hit a two-RBI single to bring home Camp and Diaz.
Corona talked about his remarkable day at the plate.
“I definitely feel a lot more comfortable at the plate,” Corona said. “I think it helps a lot when you have Camp hitting in front of you and Bates behind you. I think I’ve been in good positions to get a hit, and I just tried to put the bat on the ball.”
The Wolfpack will go on the road to play East Carolina this Wednesday before heading over to start a three-game series this Friday against Maryland.