Following the team’s weekend series sweep over Miami, NC State baseball (23-1, 8-1 ACC) will turn its attention towards Elon and NC A&T who it faces this week.
Elon (13-11, 2-1 CAA), who the Pack takes on at home Tuesday, opened its conference play over the weekend with a 2-1 series win over the College of Charleston. After the Phoenix lost the first game of the series, it won the final two games by scores of 7-2 and 8-6, respectively, highlighting the team’s offensive prowess.
The Phoenix averages just over six runs per game, in comparison the Wolfpack averages 8.58 runs per game. The largest contributor to the Phoenix’s offense is infielder Cam Devanney who leads the team in runs, RBIs and home runs.
One X-factor that Elon does have is its proficiency on the base paths. The Phoenix has stolen 31 bases this season on just 38 attempts. Combined with the team’s .373 on-base percentage, the Wolfpack’s star sophomore catcher Patrick Bailey might be in for a busy day behind the plate.
As good as Bailey is behind the plate he is arguably even better at it. The catcher holds the second-highest batting average on the team at .337 and has a team-high .470 on-base percentage, an important stat for someone hitting so high in the order.
The one player with a higher batting average than Bailey is freshman infielder Tyler McDonough, who is hitting an impressive .392. The duo of Bailey and McDonough combined to go 12 for 27 at the plate, or .444, during the team’s weekend series with Miami.
If Bailey and McDonough can keep up their excellent hitting this season, then the Wolfpack should be able to continue its fantastic start to the season.
The Wolfpack will face NC A&T (14-9, 5-1 MEAC) on Wednesday after its clash with Elon. The Aggies will be coming off a Tuesday game of their own against South Carolina, and much like the Wolfpack, the Aggies also swept their weekend series against Bethune-Cookman.
The Aggies this season have just one starter hitting over .300, in comparison to five of the Wolfpack’s nine usual starters, and one of its regular subs is hitting over .300.
However, much like the Wolfpack’s Tuesday opponents, the Aggies are lethal on the base paths. A&T has stolen 39 bases on 51 attempts, showing the Aggies are not only willing to run, but effective when they do so.
This could cause the Wolfpack some issues in both midweek games, as the Pack’s opponents have been successful in stealing the bases 19 out of the 25 times they have attempted it this season.
If Bailey and the pitchers can limit the opponent’s baserunners, then the Wolfpack should be able to go into its weekend series with Virginia coming off two strong performances.
Both Tuesday and Wednesday’s opening pitches are set for 6 p.m., and Tuesday’s game can be watched on ACC Network Extra.
