NC State Baseball
A Funeral for the Haters
At the end of game 1’s absolute rout of the Wolfpack, lots of people jumped on Twitter. While the 21-2 blowout was one of the biggest ever, it meant no more than a 6-5 or 3-2 win. Believe it or not, to win a three game series, you need to win two.
So I need you to crank Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You,” as we pay our minimal respects to all our haters. Peace, Love, Go Pack.
Y’all are about to get run ruled again. I thought the competition got tougher the further you advance. This a joke.
— Razorback Barbie (@BarbieRazorback) June 12, 2021
Kopps with the start? RIP NC State
— College Baseball (@BaseballInfo7) June 13, 2021
“Hi my name is Heather, and my team just got blown tf out in a super regional game that my team clearly don’t need to be in”
— Trey DeWitt 🐗 (@_HoggyStyle_) June 12, 2021
Trey was on one…
https://twitter.com/ArkansasBoy_8/status/1403527630306095108?s=20
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/PmAtlHxPXz
— UNC Barstool (@UNCBarstool) June 12, 2021
Was hoping for an actually good series to keep us prepared for Omaha
— Aarav Lukah Gabbar (@GabbarAarav) June 12, 2021
Nobody’s reality checking the hogs this year. We’ve won 9 SEC series in a row. Have you seen how many top 10 teams that the hogs have beat? Log off casual fan.
— John 🐗 (@jdex2456) May 17, 2021
Bro state did not belong in the supers
— Tar Heel Sports (@Tarheel_Sports_) June 12, 2021
https://twitter.com/dewayne72601/status/1394047676036132864?s=21
They will. NC State always chokes, especially in the Supers!!!
— SneakerHatHead (@SneakerHatHead) June 14, 2021
Sorry nc state, nice run but with all due respect its over. Even if its a close game tomorrow, we'll bring in Kopps and its a done deal.
— James Parks (@jwparks34) June 12, 2021
yeah it’s official ECU runs NC baseball
— esoteric wifebreeder (@BarstoolLiberia) June 12, 2021
Enjoy your last night in Fayetteville, Wolfpack! I told you it would be a 2-night stay! #WPS🐗
— Ray Zorback (@ClassyHogFan79) June 12, 2021
Arkansas vs. NC State just shows the disparity between SEC baseball and any other conference
— Joseph Bilger (@joseph3bilger) June 12, 2021
@Husker_Baseball got screwed on the seeding. They are wayyyyy better than this NC State team.
— Big Game Boomer (@BigGameBoomer) June 11, 2021
Whooooooooooopppppssssssiiiiieeeeeeee
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.
Two-out damage from ‘Zart 💥 pic.twitter.com/cSn7vKoZBh
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 18, 2024
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.
Ideal start to the home half of the third 💣#Pack9 | @Alec_mak99 pic.twitter.com/BrLSstM3D2
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
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.
Tie game! C-Nix delivers 😤 pic.twitter.com/aafYlvOhUh
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
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.
TO THE MOON 📈🚀 pic.twitter.com/8g8pPUFJAN
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
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.
CALLED. GAME.#Pack9 | @SlippinOnButter pic.twitter.com/6B15Jxkndr
— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) April 19, 2024
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.
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.
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.
This is why you should always respect your opponent…