Connect with us

NC State Baseball

ANALYSIS: NC State Fans Should Be Proud of Exponential Progress

Published

on

As the end of the 2017-18 athletic year comes to an end, when you simply look at the data, you can’t miss the fact that NC State’s athletic program as a whole continues to make massive strides in the right direction.

With one sport (Baseball) left to finalize the 2017-18 Directors’ Cup Final Standings, NC State sits in 15th place nationally. The Directors’ Cup, which began in 1993, calculates the best overall college athletic programs in the country. For starters, as you see below, NC State’s athletic program has moved from 89th nationally in 2010, to likely finishing in the Top-15 in 2018. That number only becomes more impressive when you consider the fact that NC State ranked 48th out of 65 Power 5 schools in expenses this year. NC State doesn’t have deep pockets like many of the Power 5 schools do, but that hasn’t stopped them from becoming one of the elite athletic programs nationally.

As you see in the chart below, even though NC State’s expenses rank 48th out of 65 Power 5 schools, the expenses have increased by $36.9 million since 2010, and the Operating Revenue by $34.9 million. Financially, things are continuing to head in the right direction, and the more they do so, the possibilities of increased success in each individual sport continues to rise as well.

Sure, NC State fans want ACC Championships, as well they should, but the Wolfpack fan base should also be extremely proud of the work the student athletes are producing in the classroom. As you can see in the chart below, in 2010 NC State had 4 Academic All-Americans in the entire Athletic Program. In 2018, that number jumped to 53, which is an increase of 1,225%.

For the first time ever, the cumulative average GPA for all of NC State’s athletes combined is over 3.0.

The Graduation Success Rate for the Wolfpack Athletic Program in 2017-18 is 85%, which is the highest in NC State history.

Lets move our attention back from the academics to the athletic. NC State had 6 coaches win Coach of the Year Awards this year for the second consecutive year. Only 1 coach won such an award in 2010, with none doing so in 2011.

This year 12 NC State athletes were National Champions, which once again, is the highest mark in school history.

Seventy-Five Wolfpack athletes were Competitive All-Americans this season. As you look at the chart below, that number was in the single digits in 2010 and 2011. Once again, an all-time high.

For the third consecutive year, 3 NC State sports took home conference championships (Gymnastics, Men’s Swimming and Women’s Cross Country).

11 NC State sports finished in the Top-25 in the Final Rankings, which is yet again, another all-time high. We will have to wait and see if Baseball lands in the Top-25 in the Final Rankings, bringing that number to 12.

NC State Athletic Director Debbie Yow has this ship heading in the right direction. That isn’t anecdotal. The data is there to prove it.

(Thanks to Fred Demarest, NC State’s Senior Associate Athletics Director/Communications and Brand Management, for providing the charts used in this piece)

Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NC State Baseball

NC State is Back in the Top-25 After Three Top-25 Wins Last Week

Published

on

After 3 Top-25 wins last week (1 over Coastal Carolina & 2 over Duke), NC State’s Baseball team is back in the Top-25 in 4 of the 5 polls. Last week was the only week that the Wolfpack hasn’t been ranked all season, after losing 1 game to UNCG, and losing all 3 at Georgia Tech.

USAToday Coaches Poll – #22

D1Baseball – #22

Image

Baseball America – #25

Image

NCBWA – #25

 

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

NC State Loses Series Finale 2-13, but Wins Series vs. #9 Duke

Published

on

NC State lost the series finale 2-13 yesterday, but won the series against #9 Duke.

Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz was the sole source of offense, knocking in both runs on two solo Home Runs. A-Mak now has 10 Home Runs on the year. Makarewicw’s batting average is .359, and his OPS is 1.226.

Sophomore Dominic Fritton’s struggles continue, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) in 4 innings, striking out 5. His ERA on the season is 8.37, with a 1-2 record.

Fritton isn’t the only pitcher that struggled.

Senior Hollis Fanning gave up 5 runs in 2.1 innings in relief. His ERA in the year is 7.30.

Junior Carson Kelly gave up three runs in 0.2 innings pitched. His ERA is 27.00 in 2 appearances.

Despite losing in this way in the finale, NC State had a heck of a week, beating #13 Coastal Carolina in a midweek game, and taking 2 of 3 against #9 Duke.

The Wolfpack will look to get revenge tomorrow night at 6pm against UNCG. Two weeks ago, they lost to the Spartans 3-18 in a midweek game.

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

NC State Secures Series Win Against #9 Duke With a 9-8 Walk-Off Victory Over #9 Duke

Published

on

After pulling off heroics in the 8th inning last night, NC State decided to make it even more exciting last night, shifting their heroics to the bottom of the 9th.

With #9 Duke leading 8-3 in the Bottom of the 9th inning, the Wolfpack would need a miracle, and sometimes you get exactly what you need.

Sometimes a miracle starts with a little bit of luck. With 1 out, Sophomore Josh Hogue grounded into a fielders choice, where as a result of an error, he ended up at 2nd, Senior Noah Outfielder Soles ended up at 3rd and Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth ended running across home plate.

Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington would then hit a 3-run Home Run, cutting Duke’s lead to 2.

With 2 outs left, Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III hit a 2-run walk-off bomb, giving NC State a 9-8 series clinching win over #9 Duke.

Senior Starting Pitcher Logan Whitaker wasn’t great, but he wasn’t terrible either. He gave up 4 earned runs in 4 innings pitched.

Junior Win Scott pitched in relief for the first time since February 28th, giving up 2 earned runs in 1.2 innings pitched.

Freshman Heath Andrews was up next, pitching for the first time since March 10th, giving up 2 earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched.

Sophomore Derrick Smith picked up his first Win of the season, pitching a scoreless 8th inning.

Pennington, Serrano III and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart all had 2 hits apiece.

Pennington had 2 Home Runs and 4 RBI’s, giving him 5 on the year.

Serranno III and Soles each had 2 RBI’s apiece, both coming off of Home Runs.

After falling out of the Top-25 on Monday, NC State has won 3 straight games against Top-15 opponents, and they will look to make that 4 straight tomorrow as the Wolfpack and Blue Devils close out the series at 1pm.

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

NC State Wins Series Opener Against #9 Duke Behind a Solid Highfill Performance

Published

on

NC State is rebounding in a major way this week. After losing all 4 games last week (Midweek vs. UNCG & swept at GT), the Wolfpack defeated #13 Coastal Carolina in a midweek game, and defeated #9 Duke 4-3 in the series opener tonight at home.

The Wolfpack were carried by a solid outing by starter Sam Highfill, who gave up 3 runs over 7 innings, while striking out 8. Highfill is now 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA.

Freshman Jacob Dudan continues to impress, picking up the Save, throwing 2 scoreless innings. Dudan now has 3 Saves on the year, and is rocking a 2.70 ERA.

With the game tied 3-3, Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 7th, knocking in Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz.

The other 3 RBI’s weren’t exciting in nature, with Sophomore Left Fielder and Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington bringing in Runs on groundouts, and Freshman 2nd Baseman ushering in a Run with a Walk with the bases loaded.

Continue Reading