The NC State Wolfpack baseball team may have a long season of growing pains ahead of it, but after one weekend of play, it is perfect.
The team’s youth was on display again Saturday afternoon, as freshman Evan Mendoza took the mound for his first career collegiate start and only four seniors graced the Wolfpack’s lineup.
The youngsters took care of business against the Davidson Wildcats by a score of 8-3, bringing its record to 2-0 on the season. Mendoza pitched five-plus innings, allowing only one run on four hits while striking out four.
“Mendoza was outstanding,” Wolfpack head coach Elliott Avent said. “His location was good. For his first collegiate start it was really good.”
Sophomore outfielder Preston Palmeiro continued his scorching start, going 5-5 with an RBI and run scored to pace the Wolfpack. The Colleyville, Texas native had six hits and five RBI’s in the first two games of the season.
“Getting five hits is almost impossible,” Avent said. “He was impressive both days.”
The game was a low-scoring affair through the first three innings as both pitchers went to work against the opposition. After Mendoza sat down the Wildcats’ hitters in order to begin the game, senior right fielder Jake Armstrong opened the scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first.
Freshman third baseman Joe Dunand nearly put the Wolfpack up 2-0 in the bottom of the second as his deep fly to center hit the top of the wall, but he was stranded on second.
The Wolfpack started converting on its offensive opportunities in the third and fourth innings. Armstrong brought in his second run of the game with a seeing eye single into left field that brought home Palmeiro for a 2-0 lead.
In the third, the Wolfpack put runners on second and third thanks to an error by Davidson freshman shortstop Alec Acosta, the first of two Davidson errors on the day. Designated hitter Logan Ratledge wasted no time, singling on a ball that glanced off the third baseman’s glove and skirted into left field bringing home Dunand. Palmeiro followed him up with by lacing an RBI single into center field for a 4-0 Wolfpack lead.
NC State could work its offense knowing that Mendoza was taking care of business on the mound. Mendoza impressed in his first start, striking out four and only walking one. His lone blemish on the day was when he missed his spot on a fastball that senior designated hitter Ryan Lowe launched out of the ballpark.
“My slider and fastball command was good,” Mendoza said. “I was pretty shocked that that ball got out of the park. I believe I can definitely go longer than I did.”
The bullpen, another area of concern for this Wolfpack team, performed decently in relief of Mendoza. While juniors Jon Olczak and Brad Stone struggled to keep runners off the basepaths, they were able to escape danger without any damage. Sophomore right-hander Joe O’Donnell, in for the ninth inning, served up a two-run homer to sophomore pinch-hitter Brian Fortier.
With so much concern entering the season regarding where offense and starting pitching will come from after the losses of veterans in the offseason, it will be comforting for Wolfpack fans to see young stars like Dunand and Mendoza having early success.
NC State will take on UNC-Wilmington Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. at the Doak.
