The Mighty Wolfpack announced its presence with authority, or at least benefitted from some wildness from the Deacon moundsmen, to sweep the series way back in the ides of March. The Pack took 19 free passes en route to outscoring Wake Forest 20-11 in the three-game set at the Doak. Staff ace Carlos Rodon (9-0, 1.59 ERA), much to the chagrin of many Pack backers who want the big lefty to face UNC later in pool play, will square off against Wake's hottest hurler, sophomore Jack Fischer (4-4, 2.77). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be televised on both the interwebs (ESPN3) and good old fashioned television (FSNSOMETHINGOROTHER, I think).
Follow below the jump to see how some of State's mainstays performed in the regular season against Wake Forest.
Not surprisingly, Rodon had a nice line against Wake earlier in the year, surrendering 2 runs, 1 earned, over 8 frames in a 6-2 Pack victory. He allowed just 4 hits, 2 walks, and fanned 9.
Trea Turner and Chris Diaz, as has been the case all season, ignited the offense. Both went 5-for-12. Turner homered, walked twice, scored 4 and drove in 2 runs. He also torched the Deacon's backstop for 6 of the 10 bags the Pack swiped in the series. Diaz crossed the plate 3 times and also coaxed a walk and drove in a run.
Ryan Mathews also had a solid series, going 4-for-9 with a homer, 3 RBI, a run and a walk.
Other performances:
Austin 3/12, 2 runs, walk, 2 RBI
Berquist 1/7, 2 walks, 2 RBI
Canela 2/10, 3 runs, walk, RBI
Ciencin 2/8, HR, 3 runs, 4 walks, 2 RBI, 2 SB
Fincher 0/9, 3 runs, walk, RBI, 2 SB
Overman 2/3 IP, HBP, SV
Fischer's components (nearly as many walks issued as K's, and only 29 K's in 55.1 IP) don't seem to support his low ERA, but he just shut out Clemson for 7.2 innings in his last and longest career start, so perhaps we're in for another pitchers' duel Thursday night. Watch out for Wake's Mac Williamson, who has tatered a total of 17 times this season.