A duel between aces was under display in Atlanta, Georgia, as the Wolfpack offense stuttered to a stop in a 3-1 loss versus Georgia Tech.
No.14 NC State (18-8, ACC 3-4), has now lost four straight games and is building some negative momentum as it traverses through ACC play. The powerful bats that were seen in the beginning of the season were missing in action in Game 1, facing No. 3 Georgia Tech’s (20-5, 7-3 ACC) star-studded roster.
Georgia Tech is one of the best teams in the country, and well-deserving of their No. 3 ranking. Four Yellow Jackets were named to the preseason All American Team and the offense has been terrifying opponents; the Jackets’ have scored 288 runs through 24 games, leading the nation. Georgia Tech is one of the Wolfpack’s hardest ACC series this season, and it had to bring its A-game.
Junior left-hander Ryan Marohn got the memo, and was in charge on the mound to start for the Pack. He had a shaky start, allowing a home run in both the first and second inning, but when he settled down Marohn showed why he’s the ace. He got ahead in the count and took command of at-bats, leading to eight strikeouts. Marohn threw 108 pitches in the loss, a new season high for the star lefty.
A pitching clash was going down in Russ Chandler Stadium, as both starting pitchers only allowed eight combined hits through the middle of the seventh. Yellow Jacket right-hander Tate McKee was all over the Wolfpack, only allowing one earned run during his time on the mound.
Freshman left fielder Rett Johnson recorded the lone RBI for the Wolfpack in Game 1. In the fifth inning, Johnson battled at the plate, hitting a two-strike ground-out RBI to bring in senior right fielder Brayden Fraasman.
The Wolfpack offense was stagnant until the eighth inning where it started to show signs of life with two runners on base with one out. The Wolfpack’s best chance to get back into the game was squashed by the Georgia Tech bullpen, as both runners were stranded. The Pack left seven men on base, and in a low-scoring matchup like tonight, it couldn’t afford for that to happen.
Going 5-for-31 at the plate, the NC State offense put alot of pressure on the pitching to be good, if not sensational, in order for the Pack to get the win. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech went 4-for-27, but its hits were more damaging — including two homers and a double.
The bottom of the eighth was an active one for the Wolfpack bullpen, as it pitched three different arms during the frame. With two runners on, sophomore left-hander Tristan Potts struck out the side to hold the Yellow Jackets at three runs and control the damage on the scoreboard. But the offense did not come through in the top off the ninth.
The Wolfpack will have a chance to even the score against the Yellowjackets in Game 2, Saturday, March 28. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
