Rodon, Pack Pile on Wake Forest in Series Opener

Carlos Rodon gave a tip of the cap after what in all likelihood will be his last start at the Doak. The junior lefty, considered one of the top three prospects in the June MLB draft, did not disappoint. Rodon allowed only an unearned run in seven innings as N.C. State walked all over Wake Forest, 9-1, in the opener of a pivotal three-game series for both programs.

The Pack (28-20, 10-15) needs a sweep to tie the Deacons (26-23, 12-13) in the conference standings, a feat that could propel the Pack into the field of the 10-team ACC tournament.

Rodon was brilliant, fanning nine to just one walk. He allowed only four hits and would have been unscored upon if not for Nate Mondou reaching on an error in the seventh. Rodon dropped his season ERA to 1.73 in the win.

The Deacons, who are just 2-9 in their last 11 ACC decisions after a strong start, were generous on the mound and in the field. Wake pitchers issued eight free passes and uncorked five wild pitches. Three errors led to six of State's nine runs being unearned. The third inning typified the game, as the Pack plated two runs on wild pitches, scoring three times total in the frame on just one hit.

The Pack answered Wake's lone run with a huge two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh to blow the game open. With runners on first and second and two down, Jake Fincher plated Andrew Knizner with a single. Preston Palmeiro followed with a two-run double. Jake Armstrong reached on an error to extend the inning, and Garrett Suggs closed the scoring with a two-run single. Palmeiro was the only Pack player to record multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4.

Eric Peterson and Will Gilbert closed the game out with scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth, respectively.

The other game of note in the race to make the conference tournament took place in Pittsburgh, where Maryland put up three touchdowns and held the Panthers to just an extra point in a 21-1 final. Here are your up to the minute 8^th-thru-11^th place standings:

It puts a bad taste in my mouth to type it, but the Terps should just go ahead and finish off the sweep. State, of course, should do likewise, and the Pack will find themselves in 9^th heading into the final weekend of conference play.