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The Case for Reid Johnston as NC State Baseball’s Season MVP

Published

3 years ago

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The clock had struck 9, I was in full panic “State Postseason” mode and maybe, just maybe had had a six-pack already in me while waiting for first pitch. There were moments during the game that I was exhausted just from nerves. Over the next two hours, however, I had convinced myself of one thing; Reid Johnston is the Wolfpack’s MVP.

Prior to the season starting, the guess would have been Tresh. At points throughout, Butler or McDonough would have been easy choices. Going 8 innings in a one-run game with an ACC semifinal birth on the line? Johnston all but solidified it, in my mind.

Quality Starts

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it over and over until the problem gets fixed; State Baseball will only go as far as this starting pitching rotation can go. Like literally, how far into games can these guys go? Johnston is the keystone piece of that pitching crew. His 7-2 record is nice, but looking at his full body of work, his impact is so much more. In 13 appearances, State is 9-4…and it could be better.

In those four losses, Johnston really only had one bad outing against Clemson (7 innings, 8 ERs). But his other three? Gave up 2 ERs to Georgia Tech, 1 ER to Louisville, and 3 ERs to #7 Notre Dame. So 13 games, 12 quality “Let’s score some runs and win this thing” outings.

Stats on Stats

In terms of ACC rankings, Johnston is top-ten in:

  • Opponent Batting Average (.227 and all but two pitchers ahead of him have more innings)
  • Wins
  • Strikeouts
  • Walks
  • Doubles and Triples Against
  • Complete Games

Although two of his counterparts were ACC Pitcher of the Week (Villaman and Willadsen), somehow Johnston didn’t make one. His Third-Team ACC is ridiculous. I won’t say he’s First-Team, because I’m a realist, but easily should have been Second-Team (we really going to include multiple sub .500 pitchers in there?).

Thursday Night

If we’re being honest, and I’m not going to say ANYTHING about future games for the Pack, just that Thursday night’s game against Pitt was a 1000% State “uh oh” trap game. They swept the ranked Panthers at their place, know they just have to beat them to advance, then the wheels fall off. Yes, that thought went through my mind a couple times last night. Pitt had bases loaded situations, close calls by umps, but the one constant was Reid Johnston’s chill factor.

Going over a hundred pitches with 10 strikeouts (about four of them ULTRA timely) and never really having a sense that he wasn’t hitting his spots, Johnston single-handedly won the game for the Wolfpack. It was a performance that was much needed in the journey to “get over the hump” for State baseball.

I just hope we can see him win a couple in the NCAAT. wink, wink

 

 

 

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

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NC State Baseball

#21 NC State 6 #7 ECU 10: Box Score (with notes)

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1 hour ago

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April 23, 2024

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#21 NC State lost to #7 ECU 6-10 on the road this evening in a midweek game. As a result, the Pirates have won both games against the Wolfpack in 2024.

When you record 10 hits and score 6 runs, you would hope that’s enough offense to win a baseball game.

Unfortunately the Wolfpack pitching staff was unable to contain the bats of the Pirates, allowing ECU to put 15 hits and 10 runs in the Box Score.

Kudos to Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz for making a STATEment in his return to Clark-LeClair Stadium. A-Mak transferred to NC State from ECU this offseason. This evening Makarewicz was 2-4 with 1 RBI, 2 Runs, and 1 Walk.

A-Mak’s Home Run was a part of back-to-back-to-back Home Runs in the Top of the 3rd for the Wolfpack, with Sophomore Right Fielder Josh Hogue and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart also hitting bombs.

NC State will look to flush this loss, and get ready for a 3-game series at home this weekend against Ball State.

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NC State Baseball

#21 NC State is Looking for Revenge Against #7 ECU

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15 hours ago

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April 23, 2024

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Earlier this season on April 2nd, #21 NC State (22-15) lost to #7 ECU (31-8) 4-12 in Raleigh. This evening the Wolfpack will look to get revenge against the Pirates in a game in Greenville at 6pm.

Overall, NC State holds a 71-43 advantage over East Carolina in the series, which dates back to 1957.

Last year, the Wolfpack and the Pirates split their 2-game series, ironically, losing at home, and winning in Greenville.

Replicating last years results will be no small task. The Pirates are ranked 7th in the land, and boast a 3-1 record against ranked opponents this season. One of those wins was against NC State, when the Wolfpack was ranked 19th. The other two ranked wins were at UNC when they were ranked 15th.

NC State has done well against ranked opponents, going 7-4 against teams in the Top-25, and 4-2 against teams in the Top-10.

The Pirates’ pitching staff leads the AAC and is in the Top-10 nationally in ERA (3.61), WHIP (1.18), hits allowed per nine innings (6.99) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.04).

ECU’s home field advantage is a real thing, going 20-2 at home thus far this season.

Senior Carter Cunningham leads the Pirates in nearly every offensive category, batting .396 with 9 Home Runs. He’s not alone though. Five of ECU’s regular starters have batting averages over .300.

It will be a homecoming for Senior Wolfpack Third Baseman Alec Makarewicz, who transferred to NC State from ECU this offseason. A-Mak is having the best season of his career, hitting 15 Home Runs while batting .349. It would be fitting for Makarewicz to win at his old stomping grounds.

 

 

 

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NC State Baseball

NC State is Solidly Back in the Top-25 After Series Victory Over Rival UNC

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2 days ago

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April 22, 2024

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NC State’s Baseball team is solidly back in the Top-25 after winning a series over rival UNC this past weekend, winning 2 of 3 at home. Last week, the Wolfpack were ranked 22nd in the Baseball America poll, but in none of the others.

NC State will play a midweek game at East Carolina tomorrow night on the road, and the Pirates rank 7th in the D1Baseball and Coaches Poll.

Baseball America – 17th

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D1Baseball – 21st

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USA Today Coaches Poll – 23rd

Perfect Game – 25th 

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NC State Baseball

NC State Wins Series, but Loses Finale to #11 UNC 14-3

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3 days ago

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April 20, 2024

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NC State won the first two games of the series, clinching their first series victory over rival #11 UNC since 2021, and the first one at home since 2016. The Wolfpack weren’t able to pull of the sweep this afternoon, losing the finale to the Tar Heels 3-14.

The NC State pitching staff didn’t have an answer for the UNC bats today. Starter Freshman Cooper Consiglio gave up 6 runs (5 earned) in 3.1 innings, striking out 4, and walking 4. The Wolfpack put 5 pitchers on the mound today, and every single one of them gave up runs. Sophomore Andrew Shaffner and Freshman Camden Wimbish both gave up 3 runs apiece.

Junior Jacob Cozart was the only bright spot in the Wolfpack’s offense today, hitting 2 solo Home Runs, marking only the 2nd time in his career that he has hit 2+ Home Runs in a single game.

The Wolfpack have two Top-10 series wins (Duke #9 and Clemson #2), and now another Top-15 series win (UNC #11).

Things don’t get any easier this Tuesday, playing #9 ECU on the road at 6pm. NC State should be ranked when they play the Pirates this week.

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