NC State swept No. 2 Clemson over the weekend at home, putting together a hitting and pitching clinic to take down the Tigers. The Wolfpack outscored Clemson 26-8 over the three-game series and upped its win streak to seven.
The sweep was a first for the Tigers, not running into much trouble up to this point in the season. They hadn’t lost consecutive games or a conference series all year ahead of the weekend.
NC State’s scoring barrage started in Game 1, pouring in 14 runs to run-rule Clemson 14-4 in eight innings. The Wolfpack didn’t have an off switch, scoring in every inning except for the seventh. They racked up seven combined runs in the first three innings and ended the matchup with a four-run eighth.
Junior right fielder Brayden Fraasman stole the show, going 5-5 with back-to-back home runs and seven RBIs, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle. Six other NC State players collected at least two hits as well.
. put on a CLINIC last night 🔥
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN)
Fraasman went 5-5 last night with 7 RBIs, 2 HR and 2 runs as No. 25 NC State defeated No. 2 Clemson, 14-4 | |
The Wolfpack continued to dominate at the plate in Game 2, recording 13 hits and two homers, while sophomore right-hander Heath Andrews had his best start of the season. Although the Tigers drew first blood in the second inning behind sophomore designated hitter Collin Priest’s solo home run, Andrews shut down the Tigers. He gave up just two runs on six hits and had a career-high of nine strikeouts in six innings of work.
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NC State scored in bunches, crossing two in consecutive innings and four in the seventh due to sophomore catcher Alex Sosa’s three-run big fly to left center.
The final game of the series was a starting pitcher’s duel between Clemson’s B.J. Bailey and the Wolfpack’s sophomore lefty Ryan Marohn, combining to throw 14.1 innings.
Marohn won the battle, giving up just one run to Bailey’s three with the help of Sosa’s two-RBI home run in the sixth inning that led to 4-1 win.
ONCE AGAIN, SING IT WITH US: LOVE SOSA‼️
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball)
B6 | NCSU 3, CU 1
Clemson’s only run came from sophomore second baseman Jarren Purify’s homer in the second, but the Tigers’ bats went cold after that. Clemson collected three hits after the second inning and struck out seven times — three in the final inning.
NC State climbed to second place in ACC standings with the series sweep and will face Miami on the road next weekend. Clemson will search for redemption at No. 4 Florida State starting Friday.
