The N.C. State right-hander hit 98 mph on the pro scouts' radar guns, pitching five strong innings as the Wolfpack topped William & Mary 9-4 on Friday.

"It was really cold outside," Brackman said. "I really didn't feel like I was throwing that hard today, but I guess I was.

"When it's cold outside, you don't really have a feel for the ball, a feel for your arm. But everything went real well today."

Until a two-run fifth inning when he seemed to lose his rhythm, it indeed went very well for Brackman.

After walking the first W&M batter, he retired the next 10 Tribe batters and did not give up a hit until the fourth inning.

"I don't think people really understand how good he really was today," N.C. State coach Elliott Avent said. "A cold day, it's really hard to get a feel for some pitches, but he threw a lot of strikes. He really set the tone."

Brackman, a 6-foot-10 junior, pitched seamlessly for the first four innings, staying in the 94-97 mph range with his fastball and mixing in a changeup and knuckle curve to keep the William & Mary batters off balance.

About 20 scouts watched Brackman pitch. And he did not disappoint, reaffirming that he is running on all cylinders after a sophomore season that was cut short by a left hip stress fracture.

He climbed up the prospect charts last summer when he hit 99 mph on the radar in the Cape Cod League. The stress fracture healed, and, when he was labeled as a top prospect and likely first-round draft pick, Brackman decided to skip basketball for a season and concentrate on baseball.

It looked like a good choice Friday. He gave up a couple of runs in the fifth, hitting a couple of batters with curve balls that stayed inside. But he left with a win and a good feeling after throwing 82 pitches.

"I hit a little rough spot in the fifth, kind of hit a wall," Brackman said. "My pitch count's not up where it will be. But I think early in the season if you get in situations where you have to face some adversity, it will help you down the road."

Brackman gave up three hits in five innings, walking just one and striking out three. Only one of the two runs he surrendered was earned.

"It's good to get that first one behind you," Brackman said. "I'm glad to get that first win and glad for the team to get the first win.

"They played great behind me today. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised by our bats."

The Pack returns just three starting position players from last year's 40-23 team that reached the NCAA playoffs.

After stranding four base runners over the first two innings, the Pack's offense got going in the third -- scoring runs in five straight innings.

Sophomore left fielder Jeremy Synan had the big hit, a three-run homer in the fourth inning that gave the Pack a 5-0 lead. And shortstop Tommy Foschi banged a solo shot in the seventh.

Catcher Caleb Mangum went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and preseason All-America Ramon Corona had an RBI triple to cap the Pack's scoring in the seventh.

"We started out pretty slowly at the plate," Synan said. "The wind was blowing out there and it was pretty cold."

Synan said he was expecting a pitch on the outside part of the plate when he came up in the fourth, and he lifted a fly ball into the wind that was blowing out toward left field.

"[The William & Mary starter] had been working me away," Synan said. "I was waiting on it and drove it that way.

"It didn't feel that great when it first came off the bat, but it got out. It definitely gave up a cushion."

And that was enough for Brackman and the Pack to get off to a good start on the 2007 season.