RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State used dominant pitching, holding the Lancers to a combined 10 hits in 18 innings and a four-RBI day from Andrew Knizner to sweep Saturday's double header at Doak Field by scores of 3-2 and 6-1, respectively.

A week after a trio of high scoring affairs at UNC Asheville, Longwood's starters bounced back with a pair of solid performances against the Atlantic Coast Conference Wolfpack. Senior Aaron Myers took the ball as usual in game one and turned in his best performance in a month, holding NC State to just two runs on two hits in a strong six innings of work. 

Luke Simpson (3-2) followed Myers' lead and dealt 5 1/3 innings while limiting the Wolfpack to three runs, only two of which were earned. The sophomore scattered seven hits and struck out for in his first start of the season for the Lancers.

Meanwhile, Glen Allen, Va. native Andrew Knizner delivered the big hits for NC State as the catcher went 4-for-7 on the day with four RBI. Knizner had just a single hit in game one of the twin bill, but it was the decisive knock, an RBI-double to right center in the eighth to give the Wolfpack the 3-2 victory. The backstop then went 3-for-4 with another pair of RBI to pace NC State to the 6-1 decision and the sweep of the day.

"I was really pleased with Aaron Myers and Luke Simpson and the job they did today," said head coach Ryan Mau. "They gave us a chance to win both games and I like what we're seeing there. After a week of exams, I thought we looked a little rusty offensively. We left the bases loaded in game one and we stranded several runners and just couldn't put the ball in play. We've got to get back to work and that begins tomorrow."
 
Game One – Longwood 2   NC State 3

NC State opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with a solo shot down the left field line from second baseman Ryne Willard. After ace Aaron Myers had retired the first four batters of the game with relative ease, Willard jumped on a 2-1 fastball and hooked it just inside the foul pole to stake the 1-0 lead for the Wolfpack.

After leaving a pair on in the third, Longwood was finally able to break through in the sixth as the Lancers loaded the bases and took the lead before recording an out. Brandon Harvell led off with a single through the right side before three-consecutive walks culminated with a RBI for Michael Osinski. A batter later, Alex Lewis smoked a line drive up the middle off of reliever Joe O'Donnell to plate the go-ahead run from third, but that would be all the Lancers mustered. Longwood stranded the bases loaded in the frame with the 2-1 lead.

With the Lancers unable to bust open a big inning, NC State bounced right back and tied the game in the bottom half on just a single hit.  A leadoff single from nine-hole Jake Fincher set up the tying run as he would advance on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Fincher came home to level the game on Andrew Knizner's sacrifice fly to left.

Myers would exit after six impressive innings, bouncing back from a recent string of tough outings for the ace. He finished the game having allowed just a pair of runs on two hits while striking out five in earning no decision.

"I thought that was the best Myers has looked for us in a couple of weeks," said Mau. "It was good to see him out there executing his fastball command and his changeup command. He showed signs of putting the breaking ball where we want it and I like the direction he's headed here down the stretch."

A nip and tuck game came down to the bottom of the eighth, when NC State scored the decisive run on just a single hit off of reliever Ryan Jones. After recording the first two outs of the inning on six pitches, Jones issued a walk before Glen Allen, Va. native and Wolfpack catcher Andrew Knizner doubled to right center as the runner from first came all the way around to score as Hayes Nelson stumbled after fielding the ball. It was a bang-bang play at the plate, but the relay home skipped just over the glove of Mac McCafferty, as NC State claimed the 3-2 lead.

The Wolfpack would hold on in the top of the ninth as reliever Joe O'Donnell finished off four innings of scoreless work to earn his sixth win of the season.
 
Game Two – Longwood 1  NC State 6

Much like the first game of Saturday's twin bill, NC State jumped out to the early lead, this time in the bottom of the first as the Wolfpack used a pair of singles and a stolen base to plate the first run of the game. Again it was Knizner who delivered the blow for the Wolfpack, an RBI-single to left field.

Longwood looked poised to answer right back in the second after back-to-back singles from Connar Bastaich and Alex Lewis put runners at the corners with no outs. Unfortunately, the Lancers could not find a run as Wolfpack starter Brian Brown fanned three-straight batters to quash the threat.

The Lancers would draw even in the fourth thanks to a dropped fly ball in right field. After Alex Lewis reached second on the error, Mac McCafferty plated the tying run with a two-out, RBI-single to center field. McCafferty would add a ninth-inning single to his game, finishing 2-for-4 with the RBI in Saturday's nightcap.

The tie was short-lived as NC State pushed in front once more in the fifth as the Wolfpack used back-to-back singles to set the table for a sacrifice fly which lent a 2-1 advantage. The inning was helped along as Sammy Miller, who started game two in right field, lost a seemingly routine fly ball off the bat which dropped in for an unconventional single.

An inning later, the Wolfpack tacked on another run, this time of the unearned variety after the leadoff man reached on an error. Two singles later, the run would score on the RBI-knock from Brock Deatherage. 

The run closed the book on Luke Simpson's first start of 2015, a strong outing in which the sophomore went 5 1/3 innings allowing three runs, only two earned. Simpson scattered seven hits while striking out four, but took the loss to drop to 3-2 on the season.

"Luke took on a role that's new for him this year," said Mau referencing the sophomore's first start. "After a little bit of a rocky start, he did a great job of settling in and giving us a chance to be in that ballgame."

NC State did not settle for the two-run edge, scoring three in the eighth to effectively salt away the game and a double header sweep. After a single and walk opened the frame, the Wolfpack put on the hit-and-run and Logan Ratledge laced a two-run double into the left field corner for a 5-1 lead. That would chase reliever Allen Ellis as Zach Potojecki took over and recorded three quick outs, but allowed the inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly, making it a 6-1 ballgame.

Curt Britt finished off the ninth for the Wolfpack, earning his first save of the season in the process. Britt went 3 1/3 innings in relief, allowing just a pair of hits. Longwood loaded the bases with two outs, but a fielder's choice off the bat of Colton Konvicka silenced the Lancer threat.

Longwood and NC State will conclude the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. from Doak Field.

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