Pirates Drop Opener to No. 23 NC State

Friday, February 16

Raleigh, N.C.

12:00 PM

Seton Hall University

0-1

No. 23 NC State

1-0

Seton Hall

NC State

2/16/2018 9:42:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score HOME INFO BOX SCORE

RALEIGH, N.C. – Senior Shane McCarthy (Fair Haven, N.J.) allowed only two runs over five innings, and junior Sebastiano Santorelli (Tuckahoe, N.Y.) collected two hits, but the Seton Hall baseball team fell to No. 23 NC State, 8-4, in game one of a doubleheader on Friday to open the 2018 season.

The Pirates' offense struggled against left-handed NC State starter Brian Brown, who held The Hall hitless for 5.1 innings. When the Pirates' offense finally erupted, with a three-run eighth inning, Seton Hall was already too far behind.

McCarthy allowed a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning, but then kept the Wolfpack off the scoreboard until the sixth inning.

Turning Point:
With the score tied at one, NC State sent nine men to the plate in a five-run, sixth inning, fueled by a pair of Seton Hall errors. The big blows were a two-RBI single by Brad Debo followed by a two-run home run by Shane Shepard off Pirate reliever Billy Layne, Jr. (Cliffwood Beach, N.J.).

Freshman Tyler Burnham (East Brunswick, N.J.) entered to retire the side in the sixth, but allowed two unearned runs in the seventh to put the Wolfpack up, 8-1.

The Pirates' offense finally broke out in the eighth inning with three runs off Wolfpack reliever Reid Johnson. After Santorelli singled to lead off, freshman Casey Dana (Montgomery, N.Y.) doubled down the left field line. Sophomore Connor Hood (Shrewsbury, Pa.) followed with an RBI ground out. Senior Mike Alescio (Fair Haven, N.J.) then delivered a sacrifice fly to score the Pirates' second run of the inning. With two outs, after a double by Christian Del Castillo (Miami, Fla.) and an error that allowed Al Molina (Freehold, N.J.) to reach base, sophomore Matt Toke (Three Bridges, N.J.) singled to left-center field to cut the NC State lead to 8-4.

Inside the Numbers:

Santorelli was the lone Pirate to record multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
McCarthy took the loss. He pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs, while striking out four and walking two in 93 pitches.
NC State out-hit the Pirates, 12-to-6, while the Pirates defense struggled late in the game, leading to four errors, compared to just one for the Wolfpack.
Dana, Del Castillo, Toke and Rob Dadona (Staten Island, N.Y.) collected one hit.
Burnham tossed two innings of relief, allowing two unearned runs on one hit, while striking out two and walking one.
Freshman Ryan McLinskey (Pearl River, N.Y.) also made his collegiate debut. He tossed a scoreless eighth inning.
Seton Hall left five men on base, while NC State left nine.
Both teams turned one double-play.

News & Notes:

McCarthy made his 38^th career start today, which ranks sixth all-time at Seton Hall. Tim Byron and former teammate Zach Prendergast are tied for fifth on the list with 40 starts.
With a hit, Toke has now hit safely in 12 straight games dating back to last season.
This was the first-ever game between Seton Hall and NC State.