N. C. State's Trea Turner Returns to Help Pack Snap Skid

Trea Turner returned to the starting lineup Wednesday in Wilmington and went 3-for-4 with three RBI to lead N. C. State (17-9) to a 10-6 win over the Seahawks (17-8). The Pack had lost four straight and were just 5-6 without Turner, who also walked and scored a run, in the starting lineup. The game marked the fifth time this season that the Pack scored 10 or more runs with Turner in the lineup compared to just once without him.

Turner got the start at designated hitter and batted second behind Brett Austin, who went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a pair of walks, and an RBI. Austin, who hit his team-leading 13^th double, also stole his eighth base. The sophomore backstop now sports an impressive .333/.405/.476 triple slash line after a slow start. Jake Fincher had two hits and two walks and has reached base in 25 of the Pack's 26 games this season. Sam Morgan added his third home run of the year.

Anthony Tzamtzis drew the start for the Pack and could not make it through the second inning thanks to a bout with his characteristic wildness. He walked three and tossed one to the backstop in one-plus inning of work, allowing a pair of earned runs. Andrew Woeck wasn't much better in relief, surrendering four runs (three earned) in two and two third innings, but the Pack pen settled down after the Seahawks plated four in the bottom of the fourth. Travis Orwig, Josh Easley, Grant Sasser, and Chris Overman combined for five and one third shutout innings, with Easley picking up his second win of the season and Overman notching his fourth save.

The Seahawks are a consensus top 50 squad in the unofficial RPI rankings from Boyd's World and Warren Nolan, so the midweek road win certainly helps the Pack's postseason prospects. The Pack host Maryland for a three-game set this weekend, with game one slated for Friday at 6:30. All three games are available on ESPN3.