WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

Carlos Rodon suffers first collegiate loss in NCSU opener

Feb 16, 2013

Raleigh, N.C. — No. 8 NC State baseball fell 6-3 to Appalachian State in its season-opener, Friday, in front of an opening day record 2,396 fans at Doak Field at Dail Park.

Pack sophomore Carlos Rodon (0-1) suffered the first loss of his collegiate career after allowing five earned runs over six innings while striking out eight. Friday's outing marked the first time that Rodon exited a game with the Wolfpack trailing. It also represents his first loss since May 21, 2010, when Rodon was a high school junior.

Appalachian State (1-0) jumped out to a terrific start behind a three-run homer from Jaylin Davis. The Mountaineers added to that lead with solo shots from Preston Troutman and Noah Holmes in the second and fourth innings. NC State (0-1) rallied with two runs in the fourth, and another in the eighth to make it 5-3. An unearned insurance run in the ninth set the final margin at 6-3.

Sophomore Trea Turner scored twice and stole two bases for the Wolfpack in a 2-for-4 outing with a double. Senior Tarran Senay drove in two RBIs while Jake Fincher and Will Nance accounted for the Pack's other two hits.

Appalachian State's Jamie Nunn (1-0) earned the win on one earned over six innings, fanning five Wolfpack hitters. Rob Marcello (1) claimed the save with a perfect ninth.

Hector Crespo led off the game with a single up the middle. Will Callaway followed one out later with a single to short to set the table for Davis' homer to left. Holmes homered on the first pitch he saw in the second to make it a 4-0 game. Troutman built on that lead with a solo shot to right with one out in the fourth.

The Pack rallied in the fourth behind Turner's lead-off double, a chopper sent over the third baseman's head. Brett Austin walked to put runners on the corners with one out for Senay. Senay grounded to second, but a pair of errors on the attempted double play sent Turner and Austin to the plate to make it 5-2. Turner started another rally in the 8th with a line drive single to center. After stealing second and third, Turner scored on Senay's sac fly to left.

NC State returns to action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. start in game two of the three-game series.