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NC State Baseball

NC State Baseball Preview: Let’s Smoke Some Hogs

Published

3 years ago

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Just going to say it…State is going to beat Arkansas this weekend. There…done…I now have taken the burden and bad juju onto myself. You’re welcome. Vonwolf will be the one that, come the fourth inning of Game 1, will have Hogs fans blowing up his Twitter, a la the USF women’s basketball fans from this year’s WBB NCAAT.

Feel like so many folks are just assuming the worst, but here are three reasons why the Wolfpack are heading to Omaha.

Under Pressure at Home

Over/under 3.5 times in the first couple innings that the announcers will talk about this Arkansas crowd. They’ll pack that baby to the gills, have choreographed dance move/cheers and be in it all night. (Although it is funny by the the sixth inning folks that have just said to themselves, “Look, love these Razorbacks, but I can’t do this standup – sit down – stand up sh*t all night). With that, however, comes immense pressure.

Arkansas is the number one team in the country. If all went as planned, they’d be hosting 16th seed LA Tech and be feeling real good about themselves. Instead, an ACC contender strolls in with a resume over this last two months, that is equal or better to anyone in the country. If they don’t make it to Omaha, all that work being top dog this year will be a waste.

“But Arkansas has the best home record in the country.” True…but…

If you take out non-Power 5 conference games at home (and we’re talking Southeast Missouri State, Murray State, Little Rock and damn UAPB), the Razorbacks home record goes from 29-6 (best in the country) to 14-6. The one team that we can compare and contrast with is LA Tech, who in a three game series, lost a game in extras, lost and then won the finale. Granted it was early in the year, but LA Tech going basically 1-1-1, gives me hope. I know that the SEC is loaded, but I also wouldn’t put all my eggs in the, “They’re home so they’ll win” basket. Also, did I mention State has the best road record in the country?

 

Swing Batta, Batta Swing

Again, I blacked out the Duke game from my mind. Couldn’t tell you what happened that afternoon, but can assure you, there is no way that our team just didn’t score.

This lineup for the Wolfpack is ridiculous. The MVP of the regional? Devonte Brown, the dude hitting SEVENTH. State was an offensive machine in Ruston, which hit dingers galore and just felt like they had completely refocused from their trip to Charlotte. State is top-30 nationally in both hits per game (10.2 / #21) and runs per game (7.2 / #30). Arkansas can’t say the same, with a 138th rank in HPG.

Arkansas themselves have a stellar relief core, starters are solid but not nearly the records you’d assume. Frankly, they might just build a statue for reliever Kevin Kopps, who has 12 wins to go with his 11 saves, which is a ratio I’ve never seen before. Arkansas’ standard four-man starting rotation, however, is 12-6. State will have the opportunity to get things started early, which 1000000% works in their favor. If hits start in the first, they’ll have a good night at the plate.

Reverse the Curse

You want to know why we went through the painful 8-run meltdown against TCU? Why we lost to Campbell and Army in regionals? That we had to endure the loss in this year’s ACCC? It’s because we needed to go big to breakout. It’s like my family’s 4th of July celebrations. Most years are fine, but it’s not “next level greatness” until an uncle losses a finger. THAT’S when you know the wait was worth it.

State athletics love to make you think one thing and then switch it up on you. Whenever we are suppose to win, we find a way to fall short. Whenever we just don’t have what it takes, we win big. Take for example the ACC Championship. We were definitely going to beat that Duke team, then we didn’t. By all metrics, Arkansas is definitely going to beat State…soooooooooooooo.

I’d rather be lucky than good and I’d rather take a team that has that weird underdog mojo. This is where rubber meets the road and this State team can prove endless amounts of doubters wrong. Give me starters going deep with swagger, give me live bats that are aggressive all night, and give me smiling Avent in the dugout.

Did I mention they are a totally different team on the road?

State. Will. Win.

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

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travelwolf
travelwolf
2 years ago

print this out, frame it, and don’t watch anymore baseball this year!

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NC State Baseball

NC State has Dominated UNC in Athletics in 2023-24

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26 mins ago

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April 20, 2024

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After NC State clinched a series victory over UNC last night in Baseball, I thought it would be a good time to relish in how the Wolfpack has dominated the Tar Heels Athletic Program as a whole in 2023-24.

The Wolfpack Baseball team has won the first two games in the series against the Tar Heels, clinching a series victory over UNC for the first time since 2021. It marks the first time NC State has won a series against the Tar Heels in Raleigh since 2016.

NC State defeated UNC in Volleyball 3-1, winning in Chapel Hill for the first time in 25 years. The Tar Heels had won the last 5 matches against the Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels 39-20 in Football in Carter-Finley Stadium. It marked the 3rd consecutive win over UNC.

NC State lost both regular season games to UNC in Men’s Basketball, but when it mattered most, the Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels in the ACC Championship Game 84-76, winning their first title since 1987.

The Wolfpack Women’s Basketball team lost to their rival in Chapel Hill, but defeated UNC 63-59 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 5 of the last 7 against UNC.

In Gymnastics, NC State defeated UNC 196.725-194.925 in Raleigh. This marked the 3rd straight victory for the Wolfpack over the Tar Heels.

NC State’s Men & Women’s Swimming & Diving teams both beat UNC. The Men won 258-93, and the Women won 196-157.

The Wolfpack Wrestling team defeated UNC 33-6 in Reynolds Coliseum. NC State has won 11 straight Duals against the Tar Heels.

The NC State Men’s Tennis team defeated UNC 4-0, winning against their rival in back-to-back years.

The Wolfpack Women’s Tennis team has defeated the Tar Heels 4-3 on two occasions thus far this season, and will face their rival again today.

The Cross Country teams didn’t have individual meets against UNC, but the Women obviously beat them, because they won the ACC Championship. The Men didn’t, finishing 8th in the Conference, with the Tar Heels finishing 1st.

The only other NC State athletic team that didn’t taste victory against UNC this year was the Women’s Soccer team, losing 0-4 in Raleigh.

Of course, each of these NC State athletic teams has much higher goals than just beating their rival, but there’s no denying how sweet it is to beat the Tar Heels.

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NC State Baseball

WATCH: Highlights from NC State’s Series Clinching Win Over #11 UNC

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8 hours ago

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April 20, 2024

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NC State came from behind for the 2nd straight to defeat their rival #11 UNC. This evening, the Wolfpack scored 3 runs in the Bottom of the 8th to secure the series victory, with a 5-4 win at Doak Field over the Tar Heels. Check out the Highlights.





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NC State Baseball

NC State Came From Behind to Beat UNC 5-4 Securing 1st Home Series Win Over the Tar Heels Since 2016!

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11 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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NC State came from behind to defeat their rival #11 UNC 5-4, winning their first series at home against the Tar Heels since 2016. The last time NC State won a series against UNC was in Chapel Hill in 2021.

A good team learns to take advantage of their opponents mistakes, and that’s exactly what the Wolfpack did this evening. Of the 5 runs they scored, only 3 of them were earned.

In the Bottom of the 8th inning, with the Wolfpack trailing 4-2, Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth was the author of late-game heroics once again, hitting an RBI Single, knocking in Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz, but the play wasn’t over. Butterworth advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch, and Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart scored on a Wild Pitch. After a groundout by Junior Outfielder Chase Nixon, Butterworth would score on a Passed Ball during the next at bat, scoring the winning run of the game.

Sophomore Dominic Fritton was fairly steady, giving up 4 earned runs in 6 innings pitched, striking out 7 (4 walks). Fortunately, no one was on base for all three of UNC’s Home Runs.

When Fritton left the game, the Pack was trailing 4-1, with their only run coming off of an RBI Double by Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington in the Bottom of the 3rd.

The Wolfpack bullpen was exceptional this evening, putting 0’s on the board for 3 straight innings after Fritton exited the game. Freshman Jaxon Lucas pitched two scoreless innings with 2 K’s, and Freshman Jacob Dudan pitched a scoreless 9th, picking up his 4th Save of the year. Lucas was credited with the Win, and is 2-0 on the year.

While I’m dishing out kudos, I don’t want to forget Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III’s RBI Double in the Bottom of the 7th, cutting UNC’s lead to 2 Runs.

This NC State is peaking at the right time, against the right teams.

The Wolfpack will look to finish things off with a sweep tomorrow afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 3pm.

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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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1 day 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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