Seton Hall
Pirates Drop Both Ends of Doubleheader to No. 23 NC State
Date: February 17, 2018
(Photo: SHU Athletics)
By: Keith Egan
Seton Hall started their year with two losses against the No. 23 team in the nation, the North Carolina State Wolf Pack.
In game one, it was a pitching battle to start things off. However, a scoreless first inning was followed by the Wolf Pack striking first in the bottom of the second inning with a home run over the right field wall by Brock Deatherage.
Although a couple close calls, including a third out made at the warning track by the Pirates to end the third inning, the game remained 1-0 into the sixth inning as Brian Brown of N.C. State held a no-hitter.
The no-hit bid was soon lost though after Rob Dadona got the Pirates first hit, and soon reached scoring position on a wild pitch. It was a sac-fly by Al Molina that put the Pirates on the board and tied things up 1-1.
North Carolina State also got their bats going soon after however, getting their first two runners on in the bottom half of the inning. Shane McCarthey saw his day end there, finishing with four strikeouts and seven hits given up in five innings on the mound.
As Billy Layne came in relief, N.C State did not slow down. The Wolf Pack took a 2-1 lead off Layne's first pitch which was soon after followed by another RBI and a home run to give them a 6-1 lead. They then added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh off a Brock Deatherage two-RBI single giving N.C. State an 8-1 lead.
Seton Hall wouldn't go down without a fight however, putting up three runs in the eighth inning, however they were not able to complete the comeback as they fell to the Wolf Pack 8-4 in the season opener.
For the second game of the doubleheader, Seton Hall came out swinging and put the first run up on the board as Matt Toke's double drove in Mike Alescio to take a 1-0 lead.
N.C State scored their first run off a throwing error to first with nobody out, then added another before the inning ended to go up 2-1. In the next inning, the Wolf Pack added another one off a Brock Deatherage homer to make their lead 3-1.
Andrew Politi's day ended on the mound for the Pirates with a runner on second in the fifth inning. He ended with three strikeouts and six hits given up in 4 2/3 inning. Matt Leon came in relief with a strike out to end the inning and keep the Pirates out of trouble.
Leon continued to impress, giving up no runs to keep the score 3-1 to end the seventh, where Sawyer took over and continued the heat on the mound. However, the Pirates could not get it going at the plate, and fell by a score of 3-1.
The Pirates will get another chance against N.C State on Sunday to end their three-game series. Game time is at 1:00 P.M.
Keith Egan can be reached at keith.egan@student.shu.edu.
