NC State baseball led by junior lefty Ryan Marohn survived a late-game scare from Boston College, winning 4-2.
After a surprising loss to Elon last Tuesday, the Wolfpack (15-3, 1-0 ACC) got back in the win column against the Eagles (10-7, 2-2 ACC). It took some time for the Wolfpack to get the bats going, but the power from the No. 10 team in the nation had to strike eventually.
It was finally going right for the Pack versus Boston College after the game against Elon where it seemed like everything was going wrong.
The Pack finished the game with eight hits, no errors and seven men left on base. The defense kept the Eagles scoreless for seven straight innings, and Marohn was a huge part of that, finishing his shut-out performance with six strikeouts, three walks and three hits. The Virginia native threw 55 strikes on 93 pitches and was looking like a well-oiled machine out on the mound.
Marohn missed last week due to pitch restriction, as head coach Elliott Avent said it was a “cautious move” to sit him even though Marohn believed he was good to go. When Marohn took the mound, he looked completely different than he has all season. His command and ball placement were on point, paving the way for his third straight win.
“I made some mechanical changes in the fall, and I went back to how I was pitching last year,” Marohn said. “I was just loose and relaxed out there and that led to good results.”
The depth for this team is scary, as it seems like anyone in the lineup has the potential to send a ball flying over the outfield wall. Junior second baseman Luke Nixon showed off his power, as he drilled an opposite-field homer on an extremely windy day to push the Pack lead to 3-0.
“Luke had the backside [homerun], and I don’t understand how that went through that wind,” Avent said. “That wind was howling, good day for Luke, he layed out a bunt hit, then goes and hits a homerun [opposite field] on a day that you shouldn’t be able to do that. We just played good.”
Freshman left fielder Rett Johnson is another player that adds great depth to the Wolfpack. He isn’t keen on making flashy plays and big hits, but relying on his speed to do the work for him, and letting the results follow. Johnson used his speed on both of his hits today as he beat out throws for two infield singles.
The production from the entire team was what propelled the Wolfpack to the win, as the defense was locked in from start to finish. Senior right fielder Brayden Fraasman embodied a “never give up” mindset as he made a spectacular catch over the first base side-wall to record the first out in the top of the ninth.
Fraasman was active at the plate as he went 2-for-3 with a much needed RBI. Fraasman filled the hitting gaps that are usually filled by powerhouse hitters sophomore center fielder Ty Head and Junior first baseman Chris McHugh. The two went a combined 0-for-7 today, but thankfully for the Pack, Fraasman stepped up.
“It was good to see us play good,” Avent said. “Today we had a lot of things that went well, we ran the bases well, our picks [pick-off] were good, hitting the cuts, it was just good to play good.”
The Wolfpack looks to clinch the series against the Eagles, Saturday, March 14. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
