Game 1 Box Score / PDF
Game 2 Box Score / PDF

Raleigh, NC - No. 10 NC State showed Wagner while it is considered one of the top teams in the nation, sweeping Sunday's doubleheader by scores of 18-0 and 25-4.

In the first game, NC State broke open a close game with Wagner by scoring 15 runs over the final five innings en route to posting an 18-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Doak Field, The Wolfpack improve to 4-1 with the win while the Seahawks see their record evened at 1-1.

In defeat, senior Jayson Keel (Starkville, MS / Starkville / Holmes CC) had his second-straight multi-hit game, finishing with a double and a single in three trips to the plate.

In the top of the first inning, Keel smoked a two-out double but was stranded in scoring position while beginning a troubling trend for the Green & White offense.

NC State opened the scoring in the bottom part of the frame on Brett Williams' two-run homer.

Wagner again threatened in the top of the second inning as junior Chris Smith (Tampa, FL / Freedom / Ellsworth CC) delivered a one-out double. Smith, like Keel, though would be stranded at second as freshman Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ / West-Windsor Plainsboro South) lined out to short, before Wolfpack starter RHP Logan Jernigan induced an inning-ending strikeout.

Keel was back at it in the top of the third inning, lacing his second hit while moving graduate student Chase Gray (Toms River, NJ / Toms River South / Seton Hall) to second base with one out. However, as was the case in the first two innings, the Seahawks were unable to further advance the runners as Jernigan again evaded trouble.

After NC State added to the lead with a single tally, senior Nick Alfano (Coral Springs, FL / North Broward Prep) reached via an infield hit with two outs in the top of the fourth. On the play the Sunshine State native moved to second on an error, before sophomore Tommy Mazurkiewicz (Neshanic Station, NJ / Somerville) followed with a single up the middle. However on the play, Alfano was thrown out while ending another Seahawk threat.

From  that point on it was all Wolfpack, as the as the ACC memeber added 15 runs en route to an 18-0 victory.

Sophomore RHP Ryan Casey (Paramus, NJ / St. Joseph Regional) was solid in defeat, yielding seven runs over 4.0 innings with two strikeouts. Jernigan earned the win, striking out four over 5.0 scorless frames.

NC State, which out-hit Wagner 15-7, was led by Williams, who finished up 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI.

Alfano joined Keel as the only Seahawk to reach base safely twice, finishing up 1-for-2 with a walk.

After being shut out in game one, Wagner struck first in game two with on a Chris Smith grand slam. Gray reached with one out via an error, before Keel got aboard on a fielder's choice while moving Gray to second. Following a fly out, junior Shaun Flynn (Tabernacle, NJ / Seneca / Burlington County College) loaded up the bases to set up Smith's big hit.

After Mike Adams (Fr., Egg Harbor Township, NJ / Holy Spirit) recorded a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, NC State slowly began chipping away at the lead with a run in the second and third innings. The Wolfpack then erupted for seven runs in the fourth while sending 12 batters to the plate in taking a 9-4 lead and would never be seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Trea Turner led the way for NC State in game two, finishing up 3-for-5 with a grand slam and six RBI. Lefty Travis Orwig earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Adams was saddled with the loss, yielding six runs over 3.0 innings of work.

The Seahawks return to action on Friday, March 1 at Richmond. First pitch is slated for 2:30 pm.

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Photography by Tim Cowie Photography