Pack9 overcomes early hole, bests UNCG 9-6

Jaxon Lucas and Andrew Shaffner combined for 7.0 innings of 1-run ball

For the second consecutive midweek contest, NC State found itself in a deep early hole. Thankfully, unlike last week’s 15-5 loss to USC Upstate, the Wolfpack were able to dig themselves out of their early misfortune to come away with a victory. The 9-6 win over UNCG puts the Pack’s record now at 19-10 on the year. The Spartans fall to 12-16.

After a scoreless first inning, UNCG busted out with a 5-spot in the top of the 2nd off NC State starter Cooper Consiglio. Luke Holland crushed a triple that came within inches of a home run to dead center field, followed by a Luke Jenkins RBI single. After a HBP and double steal, Tyler Steele hit a no-doubter out to left to make it a 4-0 game. Jeremy Wolf doubled and stole third base, scoring on an errant throw by Pack catcher Drew Lanphere, putting State at an early 5-0 deficit.

Thankfully, Jaxon Lucas (2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K) and Andrew Shaffner (4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) would take the ball from there and hold the Spartan bats at bay while the Pack lineup took control. Lucas tossed 33 pitches in his fourth scoreless outing out of seven appearances on the year while earning his first win. Shaffner threw 63 pitches in picking up his team-leading 3rd save of the year.

Unfortunately, the struggled continued for Consiglio (2.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 2 K) for the 5th straight outing. The sophomore lefty started in the first matchup with UNCG in early March, although he tossed 4.0 innings of scoreless 1-hit ball in that one. Over his last five outings he’s allowed 12 earned runs over 7.1 innings with 7 BB, 2 HBP, and 6 K.

The Pack offense got three runs back in the bottom of the 2nd inning on a 3-run home run from Brayden Fraasman, driving in Ty Head and Ryan Jaros who both walked to start the inning.

State tied it up in the next inning with Chris McHugh leading off the inning with a single and Josh Hogue following with a double. Head brought them both in on a single, with all three batters working the Spartan’s right fielder.

For the third straight inning, NC State would plate a run in the 4th, with this one putting the Pack ahead, 6-5. Luke Nixon walked with one out and later stole second before scoring on a Hogue single.

The score stayed there for a few innings before State scratched another run in the 7th. Hogue led off State’s half of the inning with a double to left center and advanced to third on a Justin DeCriscio fly out. Head then grounded out to second base to plate Hogue.

That run was huge as UNCG put up a run of their own in the top of the 8th, the lone run they’d score on the Wolfpack bullpen. The Spartans had two men in scoring position with one out, but Shaffner escaped with the lead, thanks in part to a big strikeout to end the inning.

State added a pair of insurance runs in the 8th. Lanphere walked to start the inning and advanced on a Nixon single. Hogue singled with one out to bring Lanphere home and move Nixon to third. DeCriscio then laid down a beauty of a sac bunt to plate Nixon and put the Pack up 9-6.

Shaffner set down the Spartans in order in the 9th to secure the win.

Hogue (4-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI) had a monster day, while Fraasman (2-for-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI) also came through huge. McHugh (2-for-5, R) joined them with multiple hits. Head (1-for-3, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2-2 SB) and Nixon (1-for-4, 2 R, BB, 1-1 SB) also had productive days while Ryan Jaros (1-for-3, R, BB) and Matt Ossenfort (0-for-2, 2 BB) each reached base safely multiple times.

State will be back in action this weekend with a home series against a Virginia team that is on a 4-game winning streak. First pitch for Friday’s opener is set for 6:00pm.