Four Wolfpack pitchers combined to allow only one of 14 Clemson baserunners to score in No. 8 N.C. State’s 4-1 win over the Tigers in front of 2,087 fans in Raleigh on Sunday afternoon.
N.C. State (12-4, 1-2 ACC) pitchers combined to strand 10 Tigers on base, including nine in scoring position. That does not count a Tiger caught stealing at third and two runners thrown out at the plate on singles. Thirteen of Clemson’s 14 baserunners reached scoring position. Wolfpack pitchers also did not allow a run in the final six innings after Clemson (9-5, 2-1 ACC) put its leadoff batter on base in five of those innings.
Grant Sasser (1-0), the third of four Wolfpack hurlers, earned the win by tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Wilkins allowed just one hit and no runs with three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings pitched to record his second save of the season.
Tigers starter Scott Firth (2-2) suffered the loss despite pitching 6 2/3 effective innings. He gave up eight hits, two runs (one earned), and one walk with three strikeouts.
Eight of the nine Tiger starters had at least one hit, led by Shane Kennedy and Maleeke Gibson with two hits apiece. Clemson will host Charleston Southern at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
