Entering the weekend with only one conference win, the N.C. State baseball team needed a strong showing in its ACC home opener against No. 15 Clemson to get back into the thick of things in the conference standings; and the Wolfpack (14-11, 3-6 overall) did just that.

In Friday’s series opener, junior Cory Mazzoni became the first Wolfpack pitcher to toss a complete game shutout since 2004, helping the Pack to a 6-0 victory at Doak Field at Dail Park.

Following Mazzoni’s four-hit gem, relievers Rob Chamra and Chris Overman combined to give up one hit over six and two-thirds scoreless innings Saturday afternoon to fend off the Tigers, 5-3.

With the possibility of a sweep well within sight in Sunday’s series finale, sub par defense and poor pitch location came back to haunt the Pack, as Clemson won 7-3.

Despite two victories over a divisional opponent, coach Elliott Avent said he was disappointed with the result of Sunday’s matchup.

“It feels good picking up two out of three against Clemson,” Avent said. “We got off to a tough start and had a chance to get back into the ACC race this weekend. It was very disappointing to lose [Sunday]. I thought it was a game we could have easily won. We made mistakes that did not have to be made and that’s what beat us.”

Having won four out of its last five games, it’s clear the Pack is turning things around, but Avent knows how valuable each game is in a conference as competitive as the ACC.

“We’ve gotten back to playing good baseball,” Avent said. “We had a chance to sweep this weekend and we should have done it.”

In the best start of his career, Mazzoni surrendered only four hits and two walks while striking out ten batters. The Evans City, Pa., native said he felt as though he was in complete control over every pitch while he was dealing.

“My fastball location was probably the best it’s been all year,” Mazzoni said. “My off-speed pitches were working too so I was able to keep hitters off balance.”

The top-half of the order did its part, with first baseman Harold Riggins leading the charge with a three-run homer. John Gianis, Chris Diaz and Pratt Maynard pitched in with an RBI each to give State a 6-0 victory.

In his first career start, freshman D.J. Thomas ran into early trouble, giving up three earned runs before Chamra entered the game in relief. The redshirt senior worked five innings, allowing only one hit while striking out five batters. With a narrow 5-3 lead, Overman entered the game in the eighth inning to shut the door on the Tigers and did just that.

“They were lights-out,” Mazzoni said. “They came in and threw strikes. They kept the ball down in the zone and let the defense help them out.”

Just like the frigid weather Sunday afternoon, the Pack’s bats were cold in the series’ rubber match. Starter Danny Healey ran into trouble in the second inning, where three doubles and an error by freshman Dylan Brown gave Clemson an early 3-0 lead. After Riggins drew a walk, centerfielder Brett Williams hit a triple over the head of Clemson’s Chris Epps, scoring Riggins to make it 3-1.

In the following inning, Maynard smashed a two-out solo home run off the scoreboard in right field to bring the Pack within one run. But State’s bats cooled off quickly, as Clemson pitcher David Haselden recorded three straight 1-2-3 innings while striking out five Pack batters.

Redshirt junior Grant Sasser was uncharacteristically erratic with his command, walking three batters on the way to giving up two runs (one earned).

“He was making good pitches but just wasn’t getting the calls from the umpires,” Maynard said. “He was hitting his spots but just wasn’t getting called strikes.”

After not committing a single error in the first two games, the Pack had two errors, which contributed greatly to the outcome of Sunday’s game and has in every loss this season, according to Williams.

“When we’ve lost this year, it’s been because of the little things like defense,” Williams said. “Playing solid defense is really important and it showed today.”

The Wolfpack will be back in action Tuesday as it travels to take on UNC-Greensboro at 6 p.m.