Thanks to some fielding miscues from George Mason and a shutdown pitching performance, the NC State baseball team topped the Patriots 3-2 at Doak Field Tuesday afternoon.
The Wolfpack (21-4, 7-2 ACC) scored all three of its runs, all unearned, in the second inning to add another win to an already impressive resume. NC State only tallied four hits, opposed to George Mason’s (10-12) seven, but rode the hot arms of freshmen Reid Johnston and Nick Swiney to the win.
“It’s not an easy game,” head coach Elliott Avent said. “But it’s a fun game to watch, and it’s a fun game to watch when it’s played well. Right now these guys are going about their business very, very well.”
Johnston (2-0, 1.88 ERA) started the game for the Pack, lasting four innings while allowing only five hits and two runs. Swiney (3-0, 2.05 ERA) took over in the fifth, putting together a 3.2 inning, one-hit performance to keep the Patriots off the board and collect the win.
“I feel good coming out of the bullpen,” Swiney said. “It’s the same approach every time. Just go out there and command the fastball and off-speed, and let your defense back you up.”
Redshirt junior Nolan Clenney (2-0, 1.47) faced one batter in relief of Swiney, stranding the game-tying run at third in the eighth inning. Redshirt senior Joe O’Donnell (1-1, 0.87) picked up his fifth save of the season, working around a leadoff double in the ninth inning to slam the door shut on the Patriots.
“We couldn’t ask more than what our freshmen have done,” Avent said. “Two guys today, Reid Johnston and Nick Swiney. If they aren’t that good today, then Clenney and Joe O’Donnell wouldn’t come in and be able to close this down today.”
For the Patriots, righty Jared DiCesare combatted the Pack’s pitching performance with a gem of his own. DiCesare hurled seven innings, striking out eight NC State batters while allowing just four hits. DiCesare took a tough loss though, allowing the three unearned runs for the Wolfpack.
“That guy was as good against us as anybody has been all year,” Avent said. “He showed how you’re supposed to pitch. We’re very fortunate to win this game.”
At 21-4, the Wolfpack is off to its best start ever under Avent, who is in his 22nd season at the helm. The 1993 Pack squad, led by Ray Tanner, started the year 27-4; the last time NC State started out a season as well as it has this year.
“The reason we are 21-4 is some incredible senior leadership,” Avent said. “You have to be so consistent and believe in yourself and go about your business the right way. I’m talking about lifting on days when you’re supposed to lift, and getting up and going to class, writing papers. Just being consistent in your life. That’s what this group has been.”
After Johnston allowed three hits and the opening run in the second inning, the Pack was the beneficiary of some sloppy play from George Mason to gain an early 3-1 lead. The Patriots committed two costly errors in the second, both with two outs, to allow NC State to plate all three of its runs.
The Patriots did get one run back in the fourth inning, as an error by Pack junior first baseman Evan Edwards allowed a run to score from second base and bring the game to 3-2. George Mason threatened to tie the game in the eighth inning, using some small ball to get a runner to third base, but the chance was thwarted by Clenney out of the bullpen.
NC State will now head on the road for seven games, playing two ACC series at Virginia Tech and Louisville added on to a tough mid-week matchup at UNC-Wilmington. The Pack is playing great baseball, and while the offense has been on display much of the season, the pitching staff and bullpen is hitting their stride as well.
“I think we’re a very complete team right now,” junior outfielder Brett Kinneman said. “They’re ability to compete out of the backside of the bullpen has just been huge for us. That’s part of the reason why we’re finding ways to win games different way. We have a pitching staff going out there and constantly throwing up zeros.”
