University of Albany Baseball Opens Season With 9-6 Win Over NC State - UAlbany Sports 2015

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University at Albany baseball team opened the season Saturday at Pelicans Ballpark with a 9-6 victory over ACC power NC State. Competing in the Caravelle Resort’s Baseball at the Beach Tournament, UAlbany handed the Wolfpack (2-1) its first loss of the season, while improving to 1-0. Junior southpaw Brendan Ryan (1-0) earned the win, throwing four complete frames. He held NC State to a run and two hits, while striking out two. Fellow junior lefty Sam DeCelle picked up the save, striking out four in the final 3.1 innings, while allowing just one run and one hit. The game began with a duel on the hill, as neither Ryan nor NC State starter Cory Wilder surrendered a hit in the opening two frames. However, in the bottom of the third, the Great Danes took advantage of a hit batsman and four walks, bringing in Shawn Blake for the first run of the contest. Facing reliever Jon Olczak, junior Matt Hinchy ripped a two-out single to right field, plating Will Miller and Alex Lushkevich. Senior Craig Lepre capped the four-run frame with an RBI single through the left side, scoring junior Evan Harasta. While the Wolfpack answered with a run in the top of the fourth on Chance Shepard’s leadoff solo shot over the left field wall, UAlbany matched the output in the bottom half of the inning. After Blake knocked a leadoff double to left, sophomore Eric Mueller singled to right, and Lushkevich’s RBI fielder’s choice made the score 5-1. With middle reliever Terry Dugdale on the mound, NC State added two unearned runs in the top of the fifth. A leadoff bunt single and fielding error, coupled with a bases loaded walk and RBI single up the middle cut UAlbany’s lead to two, 5-3. Undeterred, the Great Danes responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, using two hits and three errors to their gain. Hinchy got things going with a single through the right side and Lepre reached on a botched fielder’s choice opportunity. Playing his first game for UAlbany, junior Trevor DeMerritt knocked in Hinchy with an RBI single through the right side. Mueller brought home Lepre with an RBI fielder’s choice and DeMerritt also scored on the play as a result of an error at third for an 8-3 advantage. In the top of the sixth, NC State loaded the bases with a single and a pair of walks. Two-hitter Preston Palmeiro followed with a two-out three-run triple to right field, cutting the deficit to two, 8-6. However, those would be the Wolfpack’s final runs of the game, as DeCelle did not allow a hit in the final three innings. UAlbany added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as Miller reached on a leadoff throwing error. Stealing second and third, Harasta brought home the junior with a double down the right field line. At the plate, Hinchy led the Danes with his 2-for-4 performance with two runs batted in and a run scored. Harasta piloted the squad with two RBIs, going 1-for-3, while Lepre, DeMerritt, Blake, and Mueller each logged a hit in the victory. For NC State, Wilder (1-1) took the loss, allowing four runs in 2.2 innings. The Great Danes will look to take down another perennial power tonight when they square off against tournament host Coastal Carolina at 6:00 p.m. at Springs Brooks Stadium. The game will stream live on the Big South Network.