Raleigh, NC., (March 13, 2019) – Headlined by a complete game from hitting and pitching, the second-ranked NC State baseball team placed a dominant performance against the George Mason Patriots with a score of 18-3 on Wednesday afternoon at Doak Field at Doak Park to improve to 17-0 on the season. The Wolfpack’s 17-0 start expands their record for the program’s best start in history.
NC State took charge in the bottom of the third inning by scoring six runs in the bottom of the third inning and taking the lead 8-2 en route to the dominant performance. NC State then put up a season high in runs scored in an inning with 10 runs. After the third inning, the Wolfpack only allowed one run for the rest of the game.
Redshirt freshman Cameron Cotter from Summerfield, NC nodded in his first win of the season after coming in as a relief pitcher in the top of the fifth. Cotter allowed zero runs with only one hit and struck out four batters in three innings of play. George Mason starter Patrick Halligan received his first loss of the season as he allowed four earned runs in 2.1 innings. Overall, NC State pitchers struck out 11 batters in the game and only walked two. George Mason had less success with pitching as they struck out seven batters but walked 12 batters.
The Wolfpack dominated the bats as each player in the Wolfpack’s starting lineup reached base safely in the game. Center Fielder Tyler McDonough led the team in RBIs as he went 2-for-5 with one two-run home run, four RBIs, and two runs. The Wolfpack had four other players with multiple RBIs: Left Fielder Jonny Butler, Short Stopper Will Wilson, Third Baseman David Vazquez, and Second Baseman J.T. Jarrett.
NC State will return to action this weekend with a three-game series at Doak Field at Dail Park against the number-one ranked Florida State Seminoles. Friday and Saturday’s games are set for 6:30 p.m., while Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m.