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NC State Baseball Sweeps BC, Looks to Build Tournament Resume

Published

3 years ago

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No….State is not in the NCAAT field right now. But that doesn’t mean that over the last three weeks, they haven’t at least shown they are capable of making a run.

The Wolfpack have now won 10 out of their last 12, with crucial wins against ranked teams (UNC) and Atlantic foes (BC). More importantly, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A WINNING RECORD at 14-11.

 

State Sweeps BC

What’s State’s winning formula?

Have starting pitchers max out innings and the bats come alive…great strategy, no? State beat Boston College, 20-5, 5-4 and 7-0 behind six doubles, three triple and three home runs. State averaged 11 hits per game, while holding BC to just 5 per.

Offensively, the Wolfpack were lead by the resurgence of Devonte Brown (6 RBIs), always steady Luca Tresh (6 RBIs) and newcomer Jose Torres (5 RBIs). The consistency of quality at-bats stood out, as the team is seeing the ball better with improved patience.

The pitching for State continues to roll on. Over the course of the series, the bullpen was only needed for 4.1 innings, as Matt Willadsen went the distance in Game 3. Willadsen, for his efforts, was named ACC Pitcher of the Week. The biggest difference for State over the last three weeks, is the battery of Johnston (3-1), Highfill (2-2) and Willadsen (3-0) have gone well into games, with multiple quality starts.

 

Where State Sits Now

Coming into the weekend, Baseball America projected that Virginia would be on the bubble, and interestingly enough, they are comparable to State in a lot of ways.

Virginia: 16-15  |   RPI 71   |  SOS 35
State: 14-11  |   RPI 74   |  SOS 24

Virginia does have a few more Q1+Q2 wins, but State will have an upcoming schedule that could change that. Through the end of the month, the Wolfpack will have series against ND and VT (both Tourney teams and potential hosts) and Wake Forest. While this recent streak has bought them time, failure to not get a single series win will end their season, outside of a miraculous ACCT run. However, series wins against ND and/or VT, in particular, would further improve RPI and at least get them into bubble discussions.

It has become abundantly clear, that the loss of early non-conference opponents has hurt State. Not only from the standpoint of getting wins, but more so finding their groove. No doubt, in a normal season, they wouldn’t have had 9 games against ranked opponents in their first 17.

The steadying of the ship is credit to Avent and staff, a strong effort by starters and the easing up a bit by opponents’ strength. Being realistic, State shouldn’t be worried about seeding as they just need to find a way in. Unless they winn out, or come close, the best they could do is 4th in any given region. But hey, with State’s starters turning it around, we’d take a bid and a chance to steal a couple games, regardless of seed.

 

 

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NC State Baseball

WATCH All 9 of NC State’s RBI’s From Their 9-8 Walk-Off Win Over #11 UNC

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10 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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NC State just defeated their rival #11 UNC 9-8 in dramatic fashion, walking it off in the Bottom of the 9th inning via a Solo Home Run from Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth.

The Wolfpack victory snapped a 5-game losing streak to the Tar Heels.

Check out all 9 RBI’s from NC State’s 6th walk-off win of the season, which leads the nation.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Defeats #11 UNC 9-8 with Walk-Off HR in Series Opener

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11 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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NC State just defeated #11 UNC 9-8 via a walk-off Home Run from Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth in the Bottom of the 9th inning.

The Wolfpack have 6 walk-off wins in 2024, which leads the nation.

In a game in which there was a combined 8 Home Runs between both teams, it was the last one that mattered most.

UNC kicked things off in the Top of the 1st inning with a Home Run from Casey Cook. The Wolfpack would respond in the Bottom of the 1st with a 2-RBI Single from Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart.

Cook would hit another Home Run in the Top of the 3rd, and Vance Honeycutt would also hit a 2-Run Home Run, giving the Tar Heels a 4-2 lead.

Once again, the Wolfpack responded in the bottom frame. Senior Third Baseman Alec Makarewicz hit his 15th Home Run of the season.

Junior Outfielder Chase Nixon had an RBI Single, and his Freshman brother Luke (2B) brought in the third run of the inning on a fielders choice, giving the Wolfpack a 5-4 lead.

The 4th inning was the only inning of the contest in which no runs were scored.

UNC’s Park Harber tied the game in the Top of the 5th with a solo shot.

Cozart was the Wolfpack’s MVP, giving his team a 3-run cushion in the bottom of the 6th inning with a 3-run Home Run. He had 5 RBI’s this evening.

The cushion wasn’t enough, with the Tar Heels scoring 3 runs over the next two innings. Alberto Osuna hit a solo shot, Alex Madera had an RBI Single, and Harber hit a sac fly.

With the game tied in the bottom of the 9th, with one out, Brandon Butterworth crushed the ball over the left field fence, snapping a 5-game losing streak against UNC.

Wolfpack Starter Sam Highfill lasted 3.1 innings, giving up 4 runs, while striking out 4. His ERA on the year is 5.16.

It was Sophomore Shane Van Dam that brought stability to the mound, pitching 3.2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs, while striking out 5. On the year, Van Dam’s ERA is 2.90.

Sophomore Derrick Smith came in to close things out, and gave up 1 run on 1 hit in 2 innings, striking out 2. Smith picked up the Win, and is 3-0 on the year.

Game 2 of the series is tomorrow night at 6pm at Doak Field. The Wolfpack will look to secure their first series victory over their rival since 2021, and their first one at home since 2016.

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NC State Baseball

NC State vs. UNC: A Historical Perspective

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18 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels face one another on the diamond at 7pm on ACC Network.

NC State holds a 139-175-1 record against North Carolina in the all-time series.

NC State’s most recent series victory over North Carolina came in style, taking all three games in Chapel Hill with a three-game sweep over the Tar Heels from March 26-29, 2021. The Wolfpack allowed just six runs over three games in a dominant sweep over UNC, outscoring the Tar Heels 23-6 .

NC State has hosted UNC just twice over the past eight seasons. NC State’s most recent home series victory over North Carolina came from May 19-21, 2016. The Wolfpack won the rubber match, claiming the series with a dominant 10-1 victory on May 21.

North Carolina has won five straight in the series dating back to a series at Doak Field at Dail Park in 2022. NC State’s most recent win over the Tar Heels came in game one of a doubleheader on May 8, 2022, cruising to a 9-2 victory over UNC.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Baseball Bracketology Report Heading into UNC Series

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1 day ago

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April 18, 2024

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NC State and #11 UNC will kickoff a 3-game series in Raleigh tonight, but before the two rivals hit the diamond, here’s a Bracketology report for the Wolfpack before the first pitch.

D1Baseball currently projects that NC State will be the #2 seed in Greenville Region, hosted by #9 seed East Carolina. Back on April 2nd, the Wolfpack lost 4-12 to the Pirates at the Doak.

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Baseball America projects NC State will be a #2 seed in the Knoxville Region, hosted by #6 seed Tennessee.

The Wolfpack are currently 20-14 overall, ranking 33rd in the RPI.

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