David Harrison turned in a great outing on Tuesday afternoon as NC State took down the Longwood Lancers to improve to 4-0 on the young season. The 6-1 win was, well, kinda boring, but hey - wins are wins and we’ll take ‘em.
Harrison, the junior lefty, went a career-high 6.0 innings, allowing just one run (it was earned) on five hits while striking out a career-high seven batters. He didn’t issue any walks, but did hit two batters. If that’s the type of effort that Harrison is going to give the Pack as a midweek starter this year, then State should do plenty well in those games.
The right-handed trio of SO Baker Nelson, FR Matt Willadsen, and JR Logan Bender combined to toss the final three innings of scoreless, hit-less, baserunner-less ball, totaling five strikeouts between them. The 12 total strikeouts recorded by NC State pitchers mark the second time this year that State pitchers have tallied double-digit Ks.
Thankfully for the State hitters, the unfortunate trend of their own high strikeout totals came to an end. After striking out 30 times over the three game weekend sweep of James Madison, Wolfpack hitters struck out just six times on the day while working nine walks. They also managed just six hits, so there’s still some reasons to be concerned, but at least they put the ball in play.
NC State jumped out to an early lead, needing just two pitches to get on the board. Austin Murr (0-0, 2 R, 4 BB, HBP) was hit by the first pitch of the game and Tyler McDonough (2-4, 2B, R, RBI, BB) drove him home with a double on the next pitch.
Terrell Tatum (1-2, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 SB) led off the 2nd inning with a walk, stole second base, and came around to score on a Lawson McArthur (2-3, RBI, HBP, SB) single to make it a 2-0 game. In the 3rd inning, Devonte Brown continued his hot streak with a leadoff home run. Tatum reached later in the inning on an infield single, advanced two bases on a couple of defensive miscues by the Lancers, and then scored on an RBI groundout by J.T. Jarrett.
The Pack closed out their scoring for the day in the 4th where Murr and McDonough started off the inning with a walk and single, respectively. Murr would score on a bases loaded walk by Brown (1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB), while McDonough scored on a sacrifice fly by Jonny Butler.
Patrick Bailey continued his cold start with the bat with an 0-for-4 day including two strikeouts looking, although he did reach base on another walk - his 7th of the season.
Longwood CF Michael Peterson (1-2, R, HBP) was the only Lancer to reach base safely multiple times.
NC State is back on the diamond this weekend as they host Tennessee Tech for a three game series at home. Friday’s game at the Doak is set for a 3:00pm start.