NC State couldn’t muster up enough runs to complete the comeback, falling 5-4 to Florida in Game 2 of the College World Series today. As a result, the Wolfpack are eliminated, and are headed back to Raleigh.

Leading up to the game, NC State Head Coach Elliott Avent said he was wrestling through starting either Sophomore Dominic Fritton or Senior Logan Whitaker. The pattern through much of the year has been, Highfill in Game 1, Fritton in Game 2 & Whitaker in Game 3. With that being said, Whitaker has been better than Fritton all year, and much better as of late. Nonetheless, Avent stuck to his order, and put the ball in the glove of Fritton to start the game. I’m not the head coach, but if it had been up to me, I’d have put the ball in Whitaker’s hands, considering how he has pitched up to this point in the NCAA Tournament.

Fritton struggled with control from the very beginning, and ended up giving up 4 earned runs in 2 innings pitched, throwing 55 pitches in two frames. The former Freshman All-American simply didn’t have his stuff today.

Whitaker replaced Fritton in the Top of the 3rd, and was absolutely fabulous. He gave up 1 run in 7 innings, striking out 10 batters, which was a career high. Getting your career high in strikeouts in the last game of your career, which happens to be in the College World Series…is pretty epic.

In both of NC State’s losses in the College World Series, they had more hits than their opponent (NC State – 6/Florida – 4). Unfortunately, one of Florida’s hits was a 3-Run Home Run from phenom Jac Caglianon.

Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz capped off one of the best offensive seasons in NC State history, hitting a 2-Run Home Run in the Bottom of the 3rd.

BIG MAK 💥

Third straight game with a homer for @Alec_mak99. pic.twitter.com/Q4IeX3n07F

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 17, 2024

A-Mak finished his college career hitting 3 Home Runs in his final 3 games in the NCAA Tournament.

Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth was responsible for the other two Wolfpack RBI’s.

.@SlippinOnButter is one smooth dude 🧈

B1 | Pack 1, FLA 0 pic.twitter.com/Y700BI1NaX

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 17, 2024

Butter is THAT dude 😎

RBI double makes it a one run game. pic.twitter.com/4zgO6j5tMS

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 17, 2024

NC State went to the College World Series for the 4th time in program history, but walked away winless for the first time.

Back on April 9th, NC State was 18-12, with an 8-7 record in the ACC. They finished the year with a 38-23 record, and an 18-11 record in conference play, which ranked 3rd. They went on to host a Regional in the NCAA Tournament for the 7th time in program history.

Considering where this team was midway through the year, and where it finished, you have to tip your hat to Avent, every member of his staff, and every player that put on the Red and White this year.

Heck of a year!

NC State Freshman Pitcher Chance Mako (6’7″) is entering the Transfer Portal.

NC State right-handed pitcher Chance Mako entered the transfer portal, @TheWolfpacker and @On3sports have learned.

The highly-touted freshman appeared in two games this season.

More here: https://t.co/4imiysErbv pic.twitter.com/hPC7f5Bhxq

— Noah Fleischman (@fleischman_noah) June 17, 2024

Mako was one of the most highly touted Freshman in their 2024 Recruiting class last year, which D1Baseball ranked 5th nationally. He participated in the 2023 MLB Combine last summer. Mako was ranked as the #161 overall prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft by MLB.com, but didn’t hear his name called. Coming out of High School, Mako was a Top-75 prospect in his class.

He made only two appearances in relief this season (2/28 & 3/12), giving up 4 earned runs in 1.1 innings, striking out 1. He has 4 years of eligibility remaining.

Mako is the 4th Wolfpack player to enter the Transfer Portal, joining:

SS Robert Nedry

P Garrett Payne

P Christopher Zupito

Gametime: 2pm
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
TV: ESPN

NC State takes on Florida today at 2 pm, with both teams looking to climb out of the loser’s bracket after first-round losses.

The loser goes home. The winner needs to then reel off 3 more wins, so it’s an uphill climb no matter what.

Florida will send their star to the bump, Jac Caglianone, who is known more for his bat then his arm. Caglianone is a monster at the plate, hitting .414 with 33 HRs. However, on the mound it’s a different story. The lefty is sporting a 4.71 ERA which isn’t awful, but isn’t all that intimidating either.

Meanwhile, at the time of this article, NC State has still not announced a starter for today’s game. It’s likely going to be Fritton or Whitaker. Fritton is 3-6 on the season with 7.35 ERA, but they might want to use a lefty to neutralize the big bat of Caglianone. That said, our guess is that you’ll see Whitaker. Florida usually rolls out with 7 righties in the lineup and Whitaker, a righty, is 3-1 with a 6.06 ERA. Whitaker has given up 4 earned runs in 10.1 innings in the NCAA Tournament thus far, striking out 13.

As usually, NC State is going to need a gutsy performance from their staff. Dudan and Smith already pitched on Friday, but that doesn’t necessarily rule them out for today. Dudan has pitched on 0-1 days rest 4 times this year, and Smith has done it 5 times. With that being said, look out for Consiglio (4.97) getting a chance out of the pen. He hasn’t seen the mound since June 1st.

The ask is huge for this Wolfpack team, but these guys are no stranger to beating the odds. In fact, its becoming ‘on trend’ for a 2024 Wolfpack team to have their backs against the wall in the postseason, only to regroup, refocus and shock the nation.

In the Top of the 8th inning today, NC State starting Right Fielder, Senior Noah Soles, was subbed out for Junior Chase Nixon. At the time, it seemed like an odd move, because Soles was 2 for 3 with a Run up to that point. The move makes more sense now, with Wolfpack Head Coach Elliott Avent explaining after the game that Soles was removed out of precaution due to a hamstring issue.

Noah Soles has a hamstring issue and is being looked at by doctors now. No other update. Avent said they took him out as a precaution and that they think he might’ve been able to continue playing.

— Rob McLamb (@RobMcLamb) June 15, 2024

Soles is being checked out by the doctors, but it seems precautionary, considering the fact that Avent said that they thought he might have been able to continue playing.

At the end of March, Soles suffered a high ankle sprain against Notre Dame, and had surgery to address it. After Josh Hogue suffered a leg fracture, Soles shortened his rehab to fill the void in Right Field.

Here’s to hoping Soles will be able to suit up for the Pack on Monday in Game 2 of the College World Series.