FSU baseball: Noles host NC State Wolfpack in conference action
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU baseball (11-5, 2-1 ACC) will get back into ACC play with a three-game series hosting the NC State Wolfpack (10-6, 0-2 ACC) on Friday.
NC State comes into the game after defeating Elon 2-1 in midweek action. The Wolfpack lost both conference games against Notre Dame last weekend, with the third game getting canceled.
NC State batters are hitting .316 with an on-base percentage of .404 and have hit 23 home runs, 35 doubles, and three triples.
NC State pitchers will enter the contest with a 4.22 ERA, with opposing teams batting .238, with 166 strikeouts and 58 walks in 145 innings. They have allowed 11 home runs.
Defensively, NC State has nine errors in 27 games for a fielding percentage of .956.
FSU baseball pitchers enter the contest with a 3.34 ERA, with opposing teams batting .196, with 214 strikeouts and 68 walks in 145.1 innings.
FSU batters are hitting .295 with an on-base percentage of .393 and have 20 home runs, 37 doubles, and four triples.
Defensively, FSU has 17 errors in 16 games for a fielding percentage of .971. FSU has played the more difficult schedule with an RPI ranking of No. 10, compared to NC State’s No. 105 ranking.
Key To Victory
FSU starting pitchers Parker Messick and Bryce Hubbart haven’t had their best stuff the last couple of outings, but they pitched well enough to win or keep FSU baseball in games. They’ll need to be sharper against a good hitting NC State team by working ahead in the count and not issuing walks. Hopefully, the FSU defense got all of their errors out of their system against Bethune-Cookman Wednesday night.
NC State has good starting pitching, but they haven’t been overpowering against teams this year. Their bullpen hasn’t been great with several guys sporting ballooned ERAs. Defensively, the Wolfpack will kick it around, so it’ll be important for FSU batters to put the ball in play against a team that will provide extra outs.
Friday’s game will begin at 7 p.m. ET and will air on the ACCNX channel.