Gametime: 2pm
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
TV: ESPN

NC State takes on Florida today at 2 pm, with both teams looking to climb out of the loser’s bracket after first-round losses.

The loser goes home. The winner needs to then reel off 3 more wins, so it’s an uphill climb no matter what.

Florida will send their star to the bump, Jac Caglianone, who is known more for his bat then his arm. Caglianone is a monster at the plate, hitting .414 with 33 HRs. However, on the mound it’s a different story. The lefty is sporting a 4.71 ERA which isn’t awful, but isn’t all that intimidating either.

Meanwhile, at the time of this article, NC State has still not announced a starter for today’s game. It’s likely going to be Fritton or Whitaker. Fritton is 3-6 on the season with 7.35 ERA, but they might want to use a lefty to neutralize the big bat of Caglianone. That said, our guess is that you’ll see Whitaker. Florida usually rolls out with 7 righties in the lineup and Whitaker, a righty, is 3-1 with a 6.06 ERA. Whitaker has given up 4 earned runs in 10.1 innings in the NCAA Tournament thus far, striking out 13.

As usually, NC State is going to need a gutsy performance from their staff. Dudan and Smith already pitched on Friday, but that doesn’t necessarily rule them out for today. Dudan has pitched on 0-1 days rest 4 times this year, and Smith has done it 5 times. With that being said, look out for Consiglio (4.97) getting a chance out of the pen. He hasn’t seen the mound since June 1st.

The ask is huge for this Wolfpack team, but these guys are no stranger to beating the odds. In fact, its becoming ‘on trend’ for a 2024 Wolfpack team to have their backs against the wall in the postseason, only to regroup, refocus and shock the nation.

In the Top of the 8th inning today, NC State starting Right Fielder, Senior Noah Soles, was subbed out for Junior Chase Nixon. At the time, it seemed like an odd move, because Soles was 2 for 3 with a Run up to that point. The move makes more sense now, with Wolfpack Head Coach Elliott Avent explaining after the game that Soles was removed out of precaution due to a hamstring issue.

Noah Soles has a hamstring issue and is being looked at by doctors now. No other update. Avent said they took him out as a precaution and that they think he might’ve been able to continue playing.

— Rob McLamb (@RobMcLamb) June 15, 2024

Soles is being checked out by the doctors, but it seems precautionary, considering the fact that Avent said that they thought he might have been able to continue playing.

At the end of March, Soles suffered a high ankle sprain against Notre Dame, and had surgery to address it. After Josh Hogue suffered a leg fracture, Soles shortened his rehab to fill the void in Right Field.

Here’s to hoping Soles will be able to suit up for the Pack on Monday in Game 2 of the College World Series.

In the Top of the 5th inning today, Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz hit a Single, bringing his Total Base total for the season to 187, breaking the record for the most Total Bases in a single season in NC State history.

A-Mak’s first hit in Omaha also sets a new Wolfpack single-season record 💪

Congrats to @Alec_mak99, the new Total Bases King 👑 pic.twitter.com/4Q1YIk3aAk

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 15, 2024

To put a cherry on top, in the Top of the 7th, A-Mak hit a Home Run, bringing his Total Base total for the year to 191.

.@Alec_mak99 bombs hit different in Omaha🤯 pic.twitter.com/AQ2ixnH0pE

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 15, 2024

1. 191 Alec Makarewicz 2024
2. 186 Tony Ellison 1995
3. 185 Turtle Zaun 1988
4. 181 Brad Piercy 1998
4. 181 Mark Wells 1994
6. 179 Larry Edens 1994
7. 178 Tommy White 2022
8. 173 Brian Ward 1998
9. 171 Jeff Pierce 1991
10. 170 Tom Sergio 1997

Makarewciz has at least one more game in the Red and White, and hopefully more, to make it even harder for future players to catch his record in the future.

#10 Seed NC State lost to #2 Seed Kentucky on a walk-off Home Run in the Bottom of the 10th inning, falling 5-4. The first three games of the 2024 College World Series have ended due to a walk-off hit.

It’s unfortunate to lose a game when you have more Hits (10/9). The Wolfpack left 12 runners on base, compared to Kentucky’s 7.

NC State took a 1-run lead into the Bottom of the 9th inning, and the ball was in the glove of Freshman Jacob Dudan. With no outs, Ryan Nicholson stepped up to the plate and hit a Solo Home Run to tie the game up.

Kentucky carried a 2-run lead into the 7th inning, but Senior Wolfpack 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz answered with a 2-Run Home Run to tie the game.

.@Alec_mak99 bombs hit different in Omaha🤯 pic.twitter.com/AQ2ixnH0pE

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 15, 2024

Then in the Top of the 9th, Senior NC State 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington scored on a wild pitch, giving the Wolfpack a 1-run lead. That marked the first time that Kentucky has trailed the entire NCAA Tournament.

The lead belongs to the WOLFPACK🤪 pic.twitter.com/76C0XXE8Lv

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 15, 2024

NC State Senior Pitcher Sam Highfill pitched a gutsy game, notching a Quality Start of 7 innings pitched, surrendering 3 earned runs, and striking out 7.

The Wolfpack’s bullpen has been the strength of their pitching staff the past couple of months, but today it showed some cracks.

Dudan gave up a Home Run to tie the game in the Bottom of the 9th, and Sophomore Derrick Smith gave up a Solo Home Run to Mitchell Daly in the Bottom of the 10th that ended the game.

The Wolfpack’s 2-3-4 batters were incredible today. Pennington went 2 for 4, scoring 2 Runs. A-Mak was 2 for 5 with a Home Run, 2 RBI’s and a Run. Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart was 3 for 4 with a Run and a Walk.

NC State will play the loser of Florida and Texas A&M on Monday.