Raleigh, NC - The Wagner baseball team will begin its 2023 season with a three-game series against N.C. State this weekend at Doak Field at Dail Park.
The teams are scheduled to play Friday at 3:00 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm.
All three games will be broadcasted on ACCNX.
Quick pitch
- Wagner was picked fifth in the Northeast Conference (NEC) Preseason Coaches Poll. The Seahawks received one first place vote.
- The 2023 Seahawks welcome six impact transfers: Infielders Ariv Camacho (Antelope Valley College) and Chris Conniff (St. John's), catchers Xavier Ulrich (Everett Community College) and Matthew Kenney (Siena), and pitchers Alec Burnett (University of Indianapolis) and Julian Chabot (Everett Community College).
-Wagner finished the 2022 season 17-34 and 12-15 in conference.
- N.C. State finished the 2022 season 36-21 and 14-15 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Probable rotation
Wagner
Friday - RHP Daniel Merkel (2022 stats: 13 GS, 0-9 W/L, 6.79 ERA, 50.1 IP)
Saturday - RHP Julian Chabot (at Everett CC: 10 GS, 4-4 W/L, 2.67 ERA, 60.2 IP)
Sunday - RHP Frankie Wright (14 GS, 6-4 W/L, 6.04 ERA, 67 IP)
N.C. State
Friday - RHP Logan Whitaker (14 GS, 2-4 W/L, 4.73 ERA, 66.2 IP)
Saturday - RHP Matt Willadsen (14 GS, 5-4 W/L, 4.19 ERA, 88 IP)
Sunday - LHP Dominic Fritton (freshman)
From the dugout… Head Coach Craig Noto:
"I want people to look at our team, and go, 'I don't like playing these guys.' Whether it's because we're talented or because we don't quit. I want people to be uncomfortable playing us."
"It's so good to see some of the guys help each other out. I see so much buy in, and not a lot of selfishness. They're tight on and off the field. They're focused on the game. These guys are chomping at the bit to get out there."
All-time series
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This will be the third meeting between the Seahawks and Wolfpack, the first since February 24, 2013.
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Wagner is 0-2 in the all-time series.
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The last time Wagner faced off against an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent was on March 6, 2019 against Virginia.
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The last time N.C. State faced off against an NEC opponent was on March 12, 2013 against Quinnipiac.
About Wagner
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Wagner brings back its top four hitters from last season in Cody Bey (.333 AVG), Maimu Kobayashi (.321), Dante Faicchio (.285) and Griffin Selby (.273).
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Kobayashi set the table well last season out of the leadoff spot. He scored 44 runs on the year, which ranked him fourth in the conference.
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Faicchio led the team in home runs (12), which ranked him third in the conference, and RBIs (52), which ranked him second in the conference. He also placed second in the NEC with 15 doubles on the year.
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Selby was right behind him with 14 doubles on the season.
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Outfielder/RHP Ryan Bilka was named by D1Baseball.com as a top-10 impact freshman.
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The rotation boasts a healthy crop of returnees and newcomers, giving Noto some tremendous depth for the upcoming campaign.
About N.C. State
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The Wolfpack were selected to finish third in the Atlantic Division of the ACC in the Preseason Coaches Poll.
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Last season N.C. State lost in the ACC Championship game and ultimately missed the NCAA Tournament.
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According to D1Baseball.com, the Wolfpack are ranked #21 nationally.
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Infielder LuJames Groover III (2022: .364 AVG, .440 OBP, Second Team All-ACC) was named to the Golden Spikes Preseason Award Watch List
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The Wolfpack lost four out of nine starters from last season, but brought on a plethora of transfers, including outfielder Carter Trice (Old Dominion), former Davidson outfielders Parker Nolan and Trevor Candelaria, and infielder Kalae Harrison (Texas A&M).
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To add to its pitching depth, head coach Elliott Avent added Rio Britton (Oregon), P.J. Labriola (Clemson) and Creed Watkins (Oklahoma).
