No. 6 NC State silences UH in opener

Without its head coach and ace pitcher, sixth-ranked North Carolina State parlayed two surges into a 4-0 baseball victory over Hawaii in the season opener at Les Murakami Stadium.

Before a crowd of 2,189, the Wolfpack sabotaged an otherwise strong performance from UH starter Brendan Hornung, who matched a career high with nine strikeouts in seven innings. Hornung threw 96 pitches, 65 of which were strikes, including 22 on the first pitch to 28 batters.

“He was outstanding the whole time,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said of Hornung, a senior right-hander. “He had some stress innings, and battled. I don’t think you can ask anything more of Brendan Hornung.”

But Hornung relinquished a run-scoring double to Will Wilson and an RBI infield single to Josh McLain in the second inning. Hornung reluctantly exited after seven innings, after which the Wolfpack cobbled two runs against three relievers in the eighth.

“I really wanted to stay,” said Hornung, who finished eight of his strikeouts with a change-up or biting split-fingered fastball. He also had precise inside-outside movement with his fastball.

But the Rainbow Warriors managed to place only one baserunner in scoring position. Sean Adler, a left-handed transfer from USC, allowed four hits in five innings. But the ‘Bows were denied on several shots.

“We hit the ball hard, right on the money, but right at guys,” Trapasso said.

First baseman Shane Shepard made two gritty stops on hard grounders.

The Wolfpack entered ranked between No. 6 and No. 14 in the national polls, but were without left-handed pitcher Brian Brown and head coach Elliott Avent. Brown was held out because of tendinitis in his pitching forearm. Avent served a one-game suspension because of his animated protest following his ejection in last year’s regional loss against Coastal Carolina. Avent watched the telecast in the Waikiki hotel, where the Wolfpack are staying during the trip.

Brett Kinneman and Wilson hit consecutive doubles to open the scoring in the second inning. Wilson advanced to third on Shepard’s deep flyout to center. One out later, McLain hit a chopper that second baseman Johnny Weeks could not field cleanly as Wilson raced home for a 2-0 lead.

Hornung reached his pitch range after the seventh inning. Trapasso then went to his bullpen. Evan Mendoza opened the eighth with a line single to right off right-hander Colin Ashworth. Mendoza then stole second after Brock Deatherage whiffed.

One out later, Trapasso summoned left-handed Patrick Martin to face the left-handed-hitting Kinneman. Kinneman coaxed a walk, ending Martin’s five-pitch appearance. Wilson followed with a two-run double off Matt Richardson.

“My biggest disappointment was the lefty-on-lefty walk,” Trapasso said, reacting to Martin falling behind 3-0 on the count. “Patrick has to do better than that. That’s his role to come in and get the lefty out. Three-and-0 is not acceptable. Patrick’s been out there before. He’s a good fit on left on left. He has a solid slider. He didn’t give himself a chance.”

Trapasso said the ’Bows need to piece together offense in the first three and last three innings. Relievers Austin Staley and Zach Usselman combined to allow one hit in the final four innings.

“We’re pretty good, but those guys are really good right now,” Trapasso said, noting he was pleased that his team did not commit an error. But “we have to mount something offensively.”