NC State baseball takes weekend series at Hawaii

In a weekend where No. 13 NC State baseball’s pitching walked 29 batters and allowed 27 runs, its offense helped power the Wolfpack to a series win at Hawaii — the farthest west the team will play in the 2024 campaign. 

The Wolfpack (4-2) has dropped one game in each of its two opening weekend series to mid-major programs (VCU last weekend), but the team has been able to find ways to take two of three in both instances. 

Here is a look at each of the Wolfpack’s three games against the Rainbow Warriors. 

Sunday: No. 13 NC State 10, Hawaii 8 

NC State used a seven-run fifth inning to coast past Hawaii in the rubber match to win the series in an offensive explosion.

The dominant inning for the red and white came as the Wolfpack’s bats were hot early in the frame. Wichita State transfer Garrett Pennington led off with a double before junior catcher Jacob Cozart clubbed his second homer of the season to right center, which allowed the Wolfpack to take a 5-4 lead. 

After that, NC State’s offense continued to roll. Redshirt freshman designated hitter Drew Lanphere singled to score two more before sophomore outfielder Josh Hogue had a two-RBI single later in the frame. Pennington closed the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored senior outfielder Noah Soles from third. 

NC State was able to hold on from there to take the series finale. 

The Wolfpack had four players record a pair of RBI each in the victory: freshman infielder Luke Nixon, Lanphere, Cozart and Hogue.

Freshman lefty Ryan Marohn earned the start on the mound for the second straight weekend and he went 3.1 innings with four runs (three earned) allowed, five walks and a strikeout. Freshman righty Heath Andrews tossed 0.2 innings with a pair of hits and walks conceded before sophomore right-handed pitcher Shane Van Dam went 3.2 innings. The SUNY Cortland transfer allowed two runs on three hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.

Hawaii made it interesting late with four runs between the seventh and eighth innings, including an RBI triple, but NC State was able to close the door with sophomore right-handed pitcher Derrick Smith, who earned the save in the eight inning contest (travel curfew).

Saturday: Hawaii 7, No. 13 NC State 5

NC State blew a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning to drop its second game of the 2024 campaign. The Wolfpack allowed four runs in the frame, three of which were unearned after Cozart allowed a passed ball on a strikeout. 

That play proved costly rather quickly. A runner scored on the initial miscue before the Rainbow Warriors hit a two-out two-RBI single to break the game open for the host squad. 

While a defensive gaffe ended up costing the Wolfpack in the middle game of the series, it was not the only mistake in the field for the red and white. Hawaii was able to score a pair of unearned runs in the second inning after a fielding error by Makarewicz and then a bases-loaded walk later in the frame.

All in all, the Wolfpack committed two errors, but it allowed five unearned runs in the contest. NC State’s pitchers walked seven and had a trio of hit batsmen in the loss. 

Freshman left-handed pitcher Cooper Consiglio wore the loss though he only logged four total pitches, a walk that allowed a run to score. Sophomore lefty Dom Fritton started and went 3.2 innings with two hits and a pair of runs (both unearned) with two walks, three hit batters and five strikeouts. 

Freshman right-hander Jaxon Lucas went four innings with three hits, three runs (two earned), two walks and four strikeouts. Freshman reliever Jacob Dudan finished the game with 0.1 innings pitched in which he allowed two walks with an unearned run and a strikeout. 

The red and white were led by Serrano with a 1-for-3 day at the plate with a pair of RBI. Freshman Jake Bechtel made his collegiate debut as the designated hitter and he logged his first-career hit as a solo home run. 

Friday: No. 13 NC State 17, Hawaii 12

The Wolfpack opened the weekend with a 17-12 slugfest win over the Rainbow Warriors. NC State scored a season-most runs in its Friday night victory.

Third baseman Alec Makarewicz paced the red and white’s offense with a pair of homers, including a third-inning line-drive grand slam, en route to six RBI and three runs scored. The switch-hitting East Carolina transfer clubbed a long ball from both sides of the plate to help the Pack to the win. 

While Makarewicz propelled the Wolfpack to the win, Serrano and Pennington each added an RBI while the Wolfpack fought back from a 3-0 deficit to an 8-3 advantage. NC State never trailed after it scored four runs in the third inning. It capped the contest with an eight-run seventh and an insurance run in the eighth.   

Pennington finished the contest with three RBI, while right fielder Noah Soles and Serrano had a pair of RBI as well. 

Graduate right-handed pitcher Sam Highfill started the contest for the Wolfpack and tossed four innings with five earned runs, four walks and three strikeouts. Senior righty Logan Whitaker earned the win with three innings of relief, in which he allowed five runs (four earned) with three walks and a strikeout. 

Labriola faced three batters and allowed two runs on three hits, while Van Dam walked five in one inning of relief and Dudan finished the contest with one scoreless inning. 

Up next

NC State will fly back east for a busy week in Raleigh. The Wolfpack will host Queens on Wednesday afternoon at Doak Field for an in-state showdown at 3 p.m. before Towson arrives for a four-game series over the weekend. 

The red and white will host the Tigers beginning on Friday afternoon. The Saturday slate will feature a twin bill, which will begin at noon, while Friday’s game is set for 3 p.m. and Sunday is a 1 p.m. start.