NC State defeats ECU in away game

April 9, 2025 Herbert Gleason MLB 0

Josh Hogue set the tone early on Tuesday night in Greenville, as NC State shut down several early scoring chances from ECU. The bullpen took over and kept the Pirates off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, leading the Wolfpack to a 4-1 victory. With the win, NC State’s RPI improved to 44th, bringing their season record to 22-11. Meanwhile, ECU fell to 20-14, with their RPI dropping to 100.

Hogue wasted no time getting the Pack on the board, launching his second home run in the past three pitches he’s faced this season. Unlike his walk-off blast against Virginia on Sunday, there was no question that this one was clearing the fence.

East Carolina managed to get a runner on base in the bottom of the 1st inning with a walk, but NC State starter Cooper Consiglio quickly shut down the threat by picking him off, preventing any potential danger.

The Wolfpack capitalized on a defensive mistake in the 2nd inning to add another run. Drew Lanphere reached base on an error and moved to third on a Trenton Lyons single. As usual, Matt Heavner came through in the clutch, driving him in to score.

Ol’ 18V Power Wheels, with 12 sacrifice bunts on the season, is well on his way to breaking the program record (at least as far as I can tell or care to look) of 20 sac bunts set by the original Power Wheels, current Pack assistant coach J.T. Jarrett. For those curious, the NCAA record for most sac bunts in a season is 34, held by UC Irvine’s Ben Orloff, who laid down a staggering 86 in his career. But let’s get back to the game…

The Pirates had their best scoring chances in the next two innings. In the 2nd, Braxton Trammel and Walker Barron led off with a single and walk, respectively, before moving up a base on a bunt. Kenan Bowman hit a ground ball to third, where Matt Heavner made a fantastic play to throw out Trammel at the plate. After a walk to Austin Irby, Consiglio struck out Alex Bouche to keep ECU off the board.

In the 3rd inning, the Pirates again put their first two batters on base, with Dixon Williams hit by a pitch and Braden Burress following with a single. This prompted a pitching change for NC State, bringing in Jaxon Lucas. Lucas quickly got two fly outs—one from Colby Wallace that advanced Williams to third, and another from Trammel that allowed Williams to score. After a walk to Barron, Lucas got a groundout to end the inning and preserve the Pack’s lead.

In the 4th, ECU led off with another hit-by-pitch (Bowman), but Anderson Nance, now on the mound, induced a 4-6-3 double play following a long at-bat by Austin Irby to end the threat. That was the last time a Pirate batter reached base until the 8th inning. Nance (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 5 K) was dominant, earning his 5th win of the year. The only hit he allowed was a two-out single in the 8th, but Luke Nixon made a stellar defensive play to end the inning.

NC State added to their lead in the 5th inning, thanks in part to another defensive mistake by ECU. With two outs, Justin DeCriscio walked, and then Luke Nixon crushed a line drive to deep right-center. The ball had the height and distance to clear the short fence at Clark-LeClair Stadium, but ECU’s Kenan Bowman, who was in position to make the catch, couldn’t hold onto it. The deflection off his glove allowed DeCriscio to score, extending the Wolfpack’s lead.

The Pack tacked on an insurance run in the top of the 9th, this time without any help from the opposing team. Ty Head led off with a walk, and Josh Hogue followed with a single. After a poorly executed sacrifice bunt attempt, Chris McHugh grounded out to first, advancing the runners. DeCriscio then brought Head home with a single. NC State attempted a double steal, but DeCriscio didn’t hold the pickle long enough to let pinch runner Jet Gilliam score, leaving the game at 4-1.

Jacob Dudan took the mound in the 9th and quickly retired the Pirates in order, striking out two batters to secure his 2nd save of the season and close out the Wolfpack’s victory.

Hogue (2-for-5, HR, R, RBI), McHugh (2-for-5), and DeCriscio (2-for-3, R, RBI, BB, HBP, 0-1 SB) all recorded multiple hits in the game. ECU managed just three hits, all singles, with only one Pirate hitter, Barron (0-for-2, 2 BB), reaching base multiple times.

The second half of the midweek series with the Pirates will be held in two weeks in Raleigh. Next up for NC State is a home series this weekend against a Louisville team that has won six straight games and is currently ranked 14th in the country. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:00 pm.

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