After sneaking out of Greensboro with a win, the NC State baseball team has a quick turnaround to try and take another midweek game against the Charlotte 49ers.
The Wolfpack (5-2) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before the Spartans tied it and made the game a tightly contested battle to the end.
The Pack scored two runs when UNC-Greensboro botched a double play attempt, allowing NC State to break a 2-2 tie and take a commanding lead in the game. The play would score the decisive runs, as NC State would hold on to win 8-2.
The Pack used five different pitchers in the game, with sophomore right-hander Christian Demby getting the start.
Midweek games, while important to win, are an important way for coaches to figure out their ideal lineups and pitching combinations. Using freshmen in high leverage situations can lead to surprise contributors, like freshman second baseman Will Wilson, who has eight hits and six RBI in the early season.
The Wolfpack has a quick turnaround as it welcomes a dangerous UNC-Charlotte team to Doak Field on Wednesday. The Charlotte 49ers (6-2) bring a potent lineup to the game, as they are averaging over eight runs per game.
The NC State lineup has not been as deadly, averaging over five runs per game. The Wolfpack has been led by Wilson, who had two RBI against the Spartans on Wednesday.
The 49ers have played and conquered a tough early schedule. Charlotte opened the season by winning a three-game series over West Virginia, before falling in a close game to No. 5 South Carolina on the road, 5-4.
The 49ers took out their aggression from the loss on Rider, whom they outscored 41-8 in a four game weekend sweep.
Charlotte is led by redshirt sophomore Jackson Mims, who has 15 hits in 30 at-bats, including two home runs, four doubles and nine scored runs. The East Carolina transfer has given the 49ers an immediate boost to the lineup, adding another weapon to an already formidable attack.
The lineup is bolstered by senior T.J. Nichting (.465 BA, three HR, 10 RBI) and junior Brett Netzer (.419 BA, four doubles, 10 RBI), giving the 49ers a lineup that will challenge the Wolfpack pitching.
Only one starter for the 49ers is hitting below .267 this season, with seven players on the roster hitting over .300. The 49ers have lobbed 10 home runs this season too.
Freshman right-hander Mathieu Gauthier (1-0, 4.76 ERA) will get the start for NC State on Wednesday. He’ll likely be opposed by senior left-hander Matt Horkey (0-1, 6.23 ERA), who pitched 4.1 innings against South Carolina, giving up four runs on eight hits and earning the loss.
Gauthier, a Quebec, Canada native, is a contender to see more starts if he can pitch well on Wednesday. After early-season struggles by many in the Wolfpack’s pitching staff, NC State head coach Elliott Avent will be looking for contributors on the mound that can help as the season turns to ACC play.
Winning early-season midweek games can go a long way towards deciding whether NC State hosts a regional for a second straight year. Using these midweek games to set the lineup the pitching staff will go even further.
