Doak Field was primed and ready for Wolfpack baseball on a windy Wednesday afternoon, as sophomore centerfielder Ty Head came to leadoff the bottom of the first. Head only needed three pitches, roping a moonshot down the right field line to start another impressive day for the Pack.
No.14 NC State Baseball (7-1) faced the Akron Zips (3-6) in what turned out to be another impressive day at the plate. The Wolfpack have scored 45 runs over the last two games, and after losing 0-1 to Princeton last Saturday, the Wolfpack are getting back to what we saw in the first five games.
“That Saturday loss was tough, but we are doing what we are supposed to do,” said junior third baseman Sherman Johnson. “… The game before [the loss] we scored 16 runs and now we are scoring all these runs again, so we are just doing what we are supposed to do.”
The Wolfpack racked up the runs again, scoring in all but one of the six frames played. Seven different players got a hit en route to 12 total for the Wolfpack. The Akron pitchers were no match for the scorching hot bats of the Pack.
Head’s stardom is starting to form, as he mashed his fourth home run of the season, scoring four runs and made it on base on three of his five appearances at the plate. Head contributed to the steal game, as he made a sensational beat out in the bottom of the fifth.
“Not many players in the country are going to be able to do that,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “I can count maybe a handful of guys I’ve had here that could do that.”
Due to inclement weather in the beginning of the season, some players are just now getting their time to shine with lineups in full swing. Avent was testing his depth before conference play, and shifted the lineups against Akron. Junior designated hitter Brandon Novy is a bat that is heating up.
“With the power he [Novy] has and the exit speed he puts off the baseball, to get his first home run today, just gotta get guys out there,” Avent said. “Sherman Johnson, a couple big two-strike hits, two RBI’s, Fraasman an RBI, just gotta get them out there to get better.”
Johnson was a big part of today’s blowout, as he went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Smart baserunning was a key part of the Pack’s offensive success as they snagged five stolen bases. The Pack never left the bases frankly, as they loaded the bases five times and left nine batters stranded after seven innings.
The Wolfpack’s campaign is off to a good start, and with dominating scores from the past two games, the Pack is telling the ACC it isn’t fooling around this year.
“We’re showing ya’ll what we are made of, and we are coming to play,” Head said.
The Wolfpack continues their trek through non-conference play with a series against Sacred Heart starting on Friday, Feb. 27. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
