Behind a stout pitching performance from junior right hander Joe O’Donnell and clutch hitting, the NC State Wolfpack (15-5, 2-2 ACC) defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-9, 0-4 ACC) 9-1 Friday night. The game was the first of three-game ACC series between the two teams.
O’Donnell pitched his first-career complete game, notching his third win of the season while allowing a single run on four hits and striking out four. O’Donnell scattered four walks but was largely able to stay out of trouble all night and allowed his teammates to eat away at the Fighting Irish pitching staff.
The performance was the first complete game for a Wolfpack pitcher since Carlos Rodon did it April 25, 2014 against Georgia Tech. O’Donnell lost the shutout with two outs in the ninth inning when pinch hitter James Nevant crushed a solo home run to get Notre Dame on the board.
“I felt good in those last few innings,” O’Donnell said. “I was just trying to keep attacking hitters and throwing strikes. That’s what any pitcher does when you’re up 9-0.”
The Wolfpack drew first blood with a run in the bottom of the first on a double by senior designated hitter Chance Shepard. He crushed it over the head of the Notre Dame center fielder, scoring sophomore second baseman Stephen Pitarra from first base.
The game would remain at 1-0 until the fifth as the Wolfpack squandered opportunities to bring runs home in the early innings. The Pack left runners in scoring position in the second and third innings, failing to take advantage of opportunities to take control of the game.
The Wolfpack eked across a second run in the fifth on a wild pitch but still left the bases loaded.
However, while the bats were struggling, O’Donnell was dealing on the mound, giving the Wolfpack ample time to get the bats going.
“His performance was extremely impressive and much appreciated,” Wolfpack head coach Elliott Avent said. “Joe did a heck of a job tonight and that’s the old Joe.”
And in the sixth inning, the Wolfpack finally heated up.
It started with a moonshot two-run home run by sophomore center fielder Josh McLain, driving the Wolfpack lead up to 4-0.
The onslaught continued in the seventh, with junior catcher Andrew Knizner doubling down the left field line to start the inning. Shepard brought him in one batter later with a single into left field for a 3-0 lead.
After junior first baseman Preston Palmeiro singled to right, sophomore left fielder Shane Shepard ripped an RBI double down the right field line. Sophomore right fielder Brock Deatherage capped the inning with a two-run triple into right center field to push the score to 9-0.
“We were patient at the plate,” Avent said. “I thought our intensity tonight was more like what we’ve been looking for all year.”
The Wolfpack received plenty of help from the Fighting Irish in the inning, as a balk pushed across the Wolfpack’s fifth run. Freshman third baseman Cole Daily then dropped a foul pop-up by Deatherage that would’ve ended the inning. Instead, later in the at-bat Deatherage tripled into right field to further extend the lead.
The Wolfpack will turn to sophomore lefthander Brian Brown to try and take game two of the series Saturday.
