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Canaan Silver, Reid Johnston, and Andrew Blake combined to keep Michigan State off the scoreboard Saturday, while Jonny Butler, Will Wilson, and Tyler McDonough each tallied two hits on the day as NC State took down the Spartans by a final score of 5-0. With the win, the Wolfpack move to 6-0 on the season.
Silver (3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K) started the game on the mound for the Pack Nine, working through a few difficult situations before handing the ball off to Johnston in the fourth inning. Johnston (4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K) was so dominant in his effort that earned the win that the Michigan State coaching staff asked the home plate umpire at one point to check Johnston to see if he was using any foreign substance to gain an advantage (he wasn’t). Blake (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) pitched the ninth inning to put the game away. The NC State pitching staff has now gone an impressive 29 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.
This was the second straight game where the Pack Nine bats took a while to get going. After leading the game off with back-to-back singles from Butler and Wilson, Michigan State starting pitcher Mike Mokma (6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K) went on to set down the next 12 NC State hitters in order. The Wolfpack weren’t able to finally break through on the scoreboard until the Spartans went to the bullpen in the 7th inning.
McDonough (2-for-4, R, SB) led off the frame with a single and moved to third base on a double down the left field line by pinch hitter Thayer Thomas (1-for-2, 2B, R). McDonough then scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch. With one away in the inning, pinch hitter J.T. Jarrett (1-for-2, 2B, R, RBI) notched the first extra-base hit of his career with a double down the left field line to score Thomas from third base. Butler (2-for-4, BB, 2 R, RBI) then singled up the middle to drive in Jarrett. After another out, Evan Edwards (1-for-4, 2B, BB, RBI) drove a double to the left field wall that scored Butler all the way from first base. The offensive outburst staked the Pack Nine to a 4-0 lead that would prove to be insurmountable for the Spartans against the NC State pitching staff.
The Wolfpack were able to scratch across one final run in the top of the ninth when Butler, who had reached base on a walk and moved up to second base on a wild pitch, scored on a one-out single by Wilson (2-for-5, RBI).
NC State will face #21 Coastal Carolina at CCU’s Springs Brooks Stadium. Game time is set for a 3:00pm start.
Speaking of the Chanticleers...
Who’s the Pack playing?
Opponent: Coastal Carolina
Mascot: Chanticleers | School Location: Conway, SC | Conference: Sun Belt
2019 Record: 6-0 (0-0, T-1st East) | 2018 RPI Rank: 22
2018 Record: 43-19 (23-7*, 1st East) | 2018 RPI Rank: 25
2017 Record: 37-19-1 (22-7-1, 1st East) | 2017 RPI Rank: 59
*2018 Sun Belt Tournament Champions
When? Where? How do I watch?
Location: Springs Brooks Stadium (Conway, SC)
Game Time(s): Sunday, Feb 24 @ 3:00pm
TV: CCU Internet Broadcast (might be behind a paywall)
Radio: WKNC 88.1 in Raleigh, GoPack All-Access
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Tell me about this team
First, let’s take a look at what was said about Coastal from our 2019 Season Preview:
Coastal will be the first team on NC State’s 2019 schedule which should exceed their 2018 performance, which is pretty incredible when you look at what they did a year ago. This Chanticleers squad returns a lot of experience and production, led by SO OF Parker Chavers (.323/.435/.498, 15 2B, 7 HR, 9 SB), SR 1B/DH Zach Biermann (.302/.419/.561, 14 2B, 13 HR), JR 2B and Raleigh native Cory Wood (.296/.435/.390, 19 2B, 17 SB), and SR OF Kieton Rivers (.285/.380/.453, 15 2B, 5 HR, 10 SB). RS-JR C Kyle Skeels (.301/.382/.538, 7 2B, 5 HR) is also back to provide some experience and pop from the backstop. FR INF Nick Lucky, a 2018 14th round pick by the Red Sox, is a name to watch out for. On the mound, JR LHP Anthony Veneziano (7-1, 3.81 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, .229 OBA) and SO RHP Zach McCambley (3-0, 3.14 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, .241 OBA) are back as members of the weekend rotation. SR RHP Matt Eardensohn (7-0, 6 SV, 2.18 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, .188 OBA) and RS-JR LHP Jay Causey (2-2, 5 SV, 2.28 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .205 OBA) are back to bolster what should be a deep bullpen. RS-SR RHP Bobbly Holmes (Tommy John Surgery) and RS-JR LHP Austin Kitchen (knee) return after missing last year due to injury. Both were integral pieces of the Chanticleers bullpen over the last several years. A trio of highly-touted freshman arms should contribute immediately, too. LHP Garrett McDaneils should compete for a weekend rotation gig, while RHPs Jacob Maton and Rhett Daniels will add depth to the bullpen.
As for what Coastal has been doing on the field so far this year, it’s been nothing short of impressive. The starting pitching has been solid, but it’s really the bats that have carried the team in these early stages of the season. The Chanticleers have scored double-digits runs in five of their first six games en route to their unbeaten start.
This team is really good. That’s really all that needs to be said. It’s a team that will hit for both average and power, as well as pushing the issue with their speed and aggressiveness on the base paths.
Who’s on the mound for these guys?
Tuesday: LHP Garrett McDaniels (FR)
Key Players:
Offense
CF Parker Chavers (SO) - .400 BA, .462 OBP, .900 SLG, 20 AB, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 7 R, 11 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K, 0-0 SB (2018 stats: .323 BA, .435 OBP, .498 SLG, 217 AB, 15 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 48 R, 42 RBI, 39 BB, 54 K, 9-14 SB). Chavers was the top returning hitter for this team from a year ago, and he’s off to another fantastic start, hitting long balls at a ridiculous rate.
LF Cameron Pearcey (RS-JR) - .526 BA, .591 OBP, .789 SLG, 19 AB, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 7 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 3-3 SB (2018 stats: .239 BA, .393 OBP, .338 SLG, 71 AB, 4 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 15 R, 9 RBI, 7 BB, 19 K, 10-13 SB). Pearcey is a HBP magnet, having already been plunked by two pitches this year after getting plunked 19 times in 150 career plate appearances entering this season. Pearcey has some wheels on the bases, too.
C Klye Skeels (RS-JR) - .471 BA, .607 OBP, .706 SLG, 17 AB, 4 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 7 R, 8 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K, 1-1 SB (2018 stats: .301 BA, .382 OBP, .538 SLG, 93 AB, 7 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 22 R, 28 RBI, 6 BB, 28 K, 0-0 SB). Skeels is a power-hitting catcher, despite having not gone deep yet this year. He’s also very good defensively, having thrown out the only two attempted base stealers against him so far this year and allowing just six stolen bases all of last year.
RF Kieton Rivers (SR) - .450 BA, .522 OBP, .600 SLG, 20 AB, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 6 R, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K, 1-2 SB (2018 stats: .285 BA, .380 OBP, .453 SLG, 214 AB, 15 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 31 R, 50 RBI, 29 BB, 61 K, 10-16 SB). Rivers is a solid, four-year player for the Chants. He led the team in sac bunts last year with 12.
2B Cory Wood (JR) - .400 BA, .586 OBP, .550 SLG, 20 AB, 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 12 R, 3 RBI, 9 BB, 4 K, 5-5 SB (2018 stats: .296 BA, .435 OBP, .390 SLG, 223 AB, 19 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 61 R, 22 RBI, 52 BB, 23 K, 17-24 SB). Wood, the CCU leadoff hitter and a native of Raleigh, is in his third year as a starter. He’s not a huge home run threat, but he handles the bat extremely well and can cause havoc on the bases.
Pitching
LHP Garrett McDaniels (FR) - 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .154 OBA, 17.6 K%, 17.6 BB%, 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K. McDaniels is Coastal’s top-rated freshman, the #109 recruit nationally and the top player in the state of South Carolina according to Perfect Game. He was a 30th round draft pick (Marlins) in last year’s MLB Draft, but probably would have been higher if he wasn’t firmly committed to attending CCU.
RHP Matt Eardensohn (SR) - 1-0, 4.26 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .292 OBA, 32.1 K%, 7.1 BB%, 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K. (2018 stats: 7-0, 6 SV, 2.18 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, .188 OBA, 22.5 K%, 6.2 BB%, 57.2 IP, 38 H, 16 R, 14 ER, 14 BB, 51 K). Eardensohn is the CCU closer and a dang good one at that. He’s not off to the best start this year, but the dude can get outs.
RHP Bobby Holmes (RS-SR) - 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, .000 OBA, 33.3 K%, 16.7 BB%, 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. (2017 stats: 5-3, 2.51 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, .264 OBA, 19.5 K%, 10.8 BB%, 43.0 IP, 43 H, 16 R, 12 ER, 21 BB, 38 K) Holmes missed all of 2018 due to Tommy John Surgery. He was a key piece of the Chanticleers bullpen prior to that, including during their 2016 national championship run.
Quick! Fun Facts!
Not today, chief.
Prediction
This Chanticleers team will provide a test unlike anything that the Wolfpack has seen this year. While the NC State pitching staff has been phenomenal so far this year, the teams that they’ve been up against aren’t known to be big hitting teams. The timing of facing the talent of this CCU pitching staff is also not ideal given the recent slow starts of the Wolfpack hitters.
Outcome: Coastal hands the Pack their first loss of the year in a close contest, 4-5.