Maryland
North Carolina State
Pitching Leads NC State Over Maryland, 4-2
4/16/2010 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 16, 2010
Box Score | Season Stats (PDF)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - NC State scored four times on two home runs in the first inning and Jake Buchanan pitched a complete game to lead the Wolfpack to a 4-2 victory over Maryland Friday evening.
Drew Poulk hit a three-run home run to left field, giving NC State a quick 3-0 advantage, and Harold Riggins followed by hitting the first pitch he saw the opposite way for a solo home run and a 4-0 Wolfpack lead.
Maryland starting pitcher Eric Potter (2-6) recovered from the tough start to pitch six innings, allowing just two hits after the first inning, but the Terps were unable to provide enough run support to complete a comeback.
Buchanan (4-3) spread out six hits, struck out seven and didn't issue any walks in the Wolfpack's first complete-game effort this season. The junior was perfect through three innings, but Maryland threatened to have a big inning in the fourth.
David Poutier, Brandon Padula and Matt Marquis hit consecutive singles, with Poutier scoring on Marquis' base-knock. Maryland then executed a double steal to put Padula and Marquis in scoring position, but were unable to bring them home as Buchanan got a groundout and a strike out to end the inning.
The Terps inched closer in the fifth after Matthew Murakami singled and stole second. Alfredo Rodriguez singled up the middle to score Murakami, bringing Maryland within two runs.
Ian Schwalenberg allowed just one hit over the final three innings to keep the Terps close, but Buchanan was just as good, allowing just one hit over the final four innings.
The Wolfpack improved to 23-13 overall and 7-9 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Maryland fell to 14-22 and 4-12 in league play.
Maryland and NC State square off in game two of the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m. Admission is free of charge Saturday and Sunday.
