Wolfpack Returns the Favor in 6-1 Victory over ECU
RALEIGH, N.C. – Evan Mendoza drove in four runs, three coming via a home run, lifting No. 6 NC State to a 6-1 non-conference win over No. 17 East Carolina Monday night at Doak Field. With the win the Wolfpack improves to 29-11 on the season, while the Pirates fall to 26-15.
Ryan Williamson (7-1) picked up the win allowing one run (earned) on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Evan Brabrand (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K), Travis Orwig (0.1 IP) and Tommy DeJuneas (1.0 IP, 2 H) tossed the final 2.1 scoreless frames in relief.
Nick Durazo (1-1) suffered the loss surrendering four runs (all earned) on three hits with a walk in 1.1 innings. Chris Holba tossed a career-high four frames allowing one run (earned) on two hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. Sam Lanier gave up a hit in two-thirds of an inning, while Matt Bridges was touched for one run (unearned) with a walk and three strikeouts in two innings.
Evan Mendoza led the Wolfpack with two hits and drove in four of their six runs, while Brett Kinneman registered and RBI and scored twiced.
Travis Watkins and Charlie Yorgen collected two hits apiece to lead the Pirates in hitting. Turner Brown drove in the lone run of the game coming in the second inning. Luke Bolka reached base three times drawing a pair of walks and singling up the middle in the sixth, while Jeff Nelson recorded a base knock in the ninth – also a single up the middle.
How It Happened: Mendoza’s three-run homer highlighted NC State’s four-run second inning, which gave the Wolfpack a 4-1 lead. Kinneman doubled home Preston Palmeiro tying the game at one-all and putting runners on second and third with no outs. Mendoza stepped to the plate and took a 2-1 offering down the left field line and over the foul pole clearing the bases.
ECU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on Brown’s 22nd RBI of the season. Watkins singled to left field, took second on a wild pitch and moved to third when Dwanya Williams-Sutton grounded into a double play. Brown delivered a shot back up the middle that plated Watkins for his team-leading 30th run of the year.
NC State extended its lead to four, 5-1, on an RBI single by Mendoza. Kinneman drew a one-out walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Mendoza drove in his fourth run of the contest with a base hit up the middle off of Lanier.
An ECU error by Brown at short accounted for the Wolfpack’s final run in the eighth inning capping the scoring at 6-1. Palmeiro waked to start the eighth and moved to second on Chance Shepard’s sac bunt back to Bridges in front of the mound. Mendoza reached on the throwing error, which allowed Palmeiro to score from second.
Up Next: ECU will return to action this weekend when it plays host to the American Athletic Conference leaders Cincinnati for a three-game home series starting Friday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
