N.C. State (27-11) scored 14 runs on 15 hits to pick up a win against a struggling Davidson club that has now lost 11 of 12 games. The Wolfpack also got a strong pitching performance as six pitchers combined to strike out 15 Davidson hitters.
The Wildcats (16-22) have struggled to hold opposing offenses down this season — giving up 10 or more runs in 18 of their 38 games. Freshman outfielder Jeremy Synan, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored, said the team did an excellent job maintaining focus.
“The team looked pretty good,” Synan said. “Seeing in the paper this morning that they had lost 10 of 11, it’s easy to come into that game looking to blow them over. I believe we came out just like we were playing a top-notch team.”
Coach Elliott Avent said the fact that Davidson has played poorly of late wasn’t a factor in the mind of his players.
“I’m sure our team didn’t know they were struggling,” Avent said. “We just have to play to get better everyday. We continued to play good defense and I thought we played very well tonight.”
The Wildcats had four errors in the game and the pitching was not much better. Davidson used seven pitchers during the game and rarely held the Pack off the bases, giving up runs in five of the eight innings they pitched. Freshman catcher David Lindsay credited the team’s hitting coaches for the offensive output.
“We’re just practicing hard and trying to get the bat on the ball,” Lindsay said. “I think we’re growing as a team. Everybody is confident and comfortable at the plate now. Everybody has their own approach, and they know what they are looking for.
“We’ve got two really great hitting coaches in [Tom] Holliday and [Chris] Hart. They teach us a lot and we’re learning.”
Though the Wolfpack played well offensively, Synan said facing so many different pitchers can be difficult.
“You look at one guy, and you’re seeing him pretty well,” Synan said. “Then they switch it up on you every inning. It’s hard to get a lock on one guy and know his pitches.”
Avent used the game as an opportunity to get some playing time for several reserves and said every player on the roster is part of the team.
“We’ve had 32 or 33 guys that have been a part of this all year,” Avent said. “They come to practice every day, they go to the weight room; they do the things you try to do to become a ball club.”
Avent said getting playing time for reserves helps the team in several ways, including getting rest for starters and building team morale.
“Everybody wants to play but I’m sure the team was glad to see those guys get an opportunity to play tonight and pull for them,” Avent said. “That creates team chemistry. We had a couple of guys that also needed to get off their feet tonight so that helped them get a little rest.”
Synan agreed with Avent’s comments that getting playing time for everyone helps the team.
“It gets the whole team involved,” Synan said. “It’s easy to sit on the bench behind somebody the whole year and get distracted. Seeing the whole team getting involved puts everybody in a positive mood. Going into a big series, everybody is all pumped up instead of some people not playing”
