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NC State Baseball: The Case For and Against Elliott Avent

Published

3 years ago

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Photo Credit: News & Observer

 

To be a Power 5 coach, regardless of sport, there is an understanding of added pressure and scrutiny. Not sure there is a more “for or against” coach right now at State, than Elliott Avent. I’ll preface by saying, I’ve always been a fan of his, but at some point you wonder if we’re all just settling for the familiar.

 

Big Wins, Bigger Losses

This week, Avent hit the 900 win milestone, something that has only been done by the rare few. In fact, if you include his time at New Mexico State, he ranks in the top-7 all-time in DI baseball wins for coaches currently at the helm. Here’s the problem, even though he’s had double digit 40+ win seasons over his near 25 year career, State has never won an ACC tournament, let alone finished first in the ACC regular season standings.

Winning it all is a tough task. Mike Martin, former FSU coach, broke just about every record possible during his 40 year tenure. Two dozen 50+ win seasons, 17 ACC championships (Regular and Tournament), handfuls of MLB draftees, but not a single National Championship. But at least he, more often than not, brought home hardware.

Not to say we shouldn’t hope for National Championships and College World Series bids, but we gotta at least get over this conference championship drought first.

 

Any Forward Momentum?

Baseball is such a long season. Every year has bad streaks and good runs. Look at State’s 2013 College World Series season. There was at one point they went 1-5 in a week, while starting that same month of March with a 24-12 loss TO ELON (good God). Out of the last 17 full seasons, State has made the NCAA’s 15 times, and were in contention last year, as they started 14-3.

But every season, at least in the last five full, feels identical. Finish top-3 in the Atlantic, get into the NCAA Regionals, find a way to be bounced early. The TCU 8-run meltdown in 2015. The dreadful losses to Army and Campbell in following years. The latter two seasons, knocked out immediately in the ACCT.

At what point is getting to postseason play not enough? Should we be happy to be in contention or realize our ceiling is NCAA Regionals? Does the State program just not have the ability, regardless of coach, to be a big-time baseball school?

 

The Love of Avent

I’ll say this with all my heart; Avent is Mr. Wolfpack. Every coach at State loves their job (I think, haha), but Avent LOVES his job and this institution. While others get fired up about their players, it seems Avent might take off his shirt one day and have every player’s name tattooed on his back under a hugging Mr. and Mrs. Wuf.

One of my favorite moments each year, is the introductory media press conference. His eyes are always bright, smile is always big, he can’t wait to coach these young men.

Maybe in the near future, State looks in another direction for a head coach of State baseball, but no one will love their job more than Avent.

 

What’s Next?

I meant to write something here that was poetic…but in short…State needs to find their groove and salvage what they can from this year. When they’re on, they’re on. When they aren’t, it’s a long, long day/weekend at the ballpark.

Regardless of what happens, not sure the results from this season will keep Avent away from being head ball coach next year. The COVID situation seems to be giving a whole lotta folks passes, and it seems no different at State.

But, if 2022 ends up falling apart for one reason or another, it might be a sad day for the Avent faithful, myself included.

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Passionate State fan that just wants to win...something...like anything...

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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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