The N.C. State (2-1) baseball team pounded the Elon Phoenix (2-1), 12-7, on Tuesday night at Latham Park in Elon, N.C.. The Wolfpack used a strong offensive start to bury the Phoenix and several big innings to keep the Phoenix out of striking distance.
This is the second straight game the Wolfpack offense has scored more than 10 runs after being shut out, 3-0, in its opener against Canisius on Sunday. The Wolfpack defeated the Golden Griffins 11-4 on Monday.
“To go back-to-back days scoring double-digit runs is definitely a step in the right direction,” junior centerfielder Jake Fincher said. “We still have to do better and find out our perfect line-up. But it’s a lot better than the opening day loss.”
The Wolfpack jumped out on Phoenix sophomore starting pitcher Tyler Manez right from the beginning as the Pack loaded the bases with one out before junior first baseman Jake Armstrong laced a single into right field to bring in two runs. Freshman designated hitter Kyle Cavanaugh followed with a double to make it 4-0.
“I felt good in that first at bat,” Cavanaugh said. “I was just looking for a fastball and he threw it to me and I was able to do what I want with it,”
That would spell the end of the day for Manez who gave up four runs on three hits. His replacement, junior right-hander Jacob Baker, would fare no better in the second inning.
After Fincher was hit by a pitch, the Phoenix botched a tailor-made double play to place runners on first and second for junior left fielder Bubby Riley, who crushed a towering triple off the wall in deep center, pushing the Pack lead to 6-1. Riley scored on junior Logan Ratledge’s groundout to give sophomore lefty Brad Stone a comfortable advantage.
Leading 7-3 entering the sixth inning, the Wolfpack again loaded the bases with only one out before Cavanaugh again came through. This time instead of a deep drive to centerfield, the freshman dribbled a groundball down the third baseline that barely stayed fair.
“The first hit felt better but a hit is a hit,” Cavanaugh said. “I’ll take both of them.”
Sophomore catcher John Mangum drew a four-pitch walk to bring the lead to 8-3. Junior right fielder Brett Austin would cap off the scoring for State in the inning with a two-out RBI single to give the Pack an 11-4 advantage.
Stone gave the Wolfpack the quality start it needed on Tuesday night. The lefty went 5 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and three runs.
The Wolfpack bullpen had trouble closing out the Phoenix as sophomore pitcher Joe O’Donnell relieved Stone and pitched 3 1/3 innings allowing three runs while striking out three. Sophomore pitcher Will Gilbert got the final out in the ninth to end the Phoenix rally and the game. The much-worried-about bullpen has given up just three earned runs in 8 2/3 innings during the State’s first three games.
“We’re walking a lot of people. We walked a ton yesterday, we walked seven today,” Avent said. “I don’t know if we are this good of an offensive club or not but it’s hard to score this many runs in college baseball. We need to pitch better. [Stone] showed some maturity to get the win with not as good of stuff as I’ve ever seen him have.”
Junior shortstop Trea Turner had another solid game at the plate and on the base paths. The speedster went two-for-five with a walk and three stolen bases. Turner scored four times and played solid defensively as well, tallying four assists.
The game was delayed two hours as Elon grounds crew worked feverishly to get the field cleared of snow and ready for the teams. The Phoenix had played its opening series against Cincinnati at Doak Field on N.C. State’s campus during the weekend due to the unplayable conditions on its own field.
After State’s 3-0 loss to Canisius on Saturday, Avent hoped the shutout would be a wake-up call to his team. Two blowout wins later, Avent still thinks his team can be better.
“They still need a wake-up call,” Avent said. “We are doing some uncharacteristic things in the dugout, on the bases. We have a ways to go, we’re not quite as mature as I thought we were going to be.”
