Connect with us

NC State Baseball

NC State’s Strong Season Ends in NCAA Regional Final Against Auburn

Published

6 years ago

on

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State baseball team advanced to the NCAA Regional Final for the fourth consecutive season but saw its strong 2018 season come to a close with a 15-7 loss against the Auburn Tigers on Sunday night at Doak Field at Dail Park.

With the win, the Tigers advance to the NCAA Super Regionals to face the winner of the Gainesville Regional.

The Wolfpack concludes the season with a 42-18 overall record and Auburn moves to 42-21. NC State recorded the program’s first 40-win season since 2013 and matched the program record with 19 ACC wins.

NCSU won eight of its 10 conference series, highlighted by three road series wins against top-25 opponents.

Avent’s Additions
Overall thoughts…
“First thing I’m going to do is congratulate the Auburn Tigers,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “Butch Thompson has done an incredible job since he got to Auburn. He’s an old friend of mine and we had some good words there at the end. They got a good ball club, a really good offensive ball club and they’re sound defensively.

“I’d like to congratulate these guys lined up here; these are our seniors. You always remember what’s the latest on your mind, but you’d be hard pressed to find a group of seniors from NC State baseball that’s as classy. They got their work done on the field and off the field; academics, the whole nine yards. They represented this university and the baseball program in a way people have no idea. I’d like to thank our fans, they been great all year. I think we sold out season tickets six or seven years in a row and they love watching these guys play, we love watching these guys play. I’d like to thank our fans and these guys really respect them.”

Quick Hits
– Auburn struck first when Will Holland scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Brendan Venter in the first inning. Holland drew a leadoff walk, then advanced to third by way of a Steven Williams single and a sac bunt by Brett Wright.
– The Tigers added three runs in the second and two in the third to take a 6-0 lead, but NC State answered in the fourth inning scoring three runs to make it a 7-3 game.
– Brett Kinneman walked to lead off the frame and scored on a double to left center by Patrick Bailey. After a single from Evan Edwards, Brock Deatherage tripled to plate Bailey and Edwards, cutting the Auburn lead to four.
– The Tigers tacked on a run in the fifth to make it 8-3 before NC State loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh.
– Shane Shepard pinch-hit for the Wolfpack and worked a leadoff walk, Stephen Pitarra followed with a bunt single and Josh McLain single to load the bases but unfortunately a called strikeout ensued to end the threat.
– Auburn carried that momentum over to the eighth inning when the squad pushed across five runs to pull away.
– The Wolfpack cut into the deficit scoring three runs in the bottom half and a run in the ninth.
– In his final collegiate at-bat, Shepard hit a three-run homer to right field, his 5thof the season, to make it a 13-6 game.
– After Auburn added a run in the top of the ninth, Jack Conley scored on an RBI single to right field by Bailey to make it 15-7.

Inside the Box Score
– Bailey led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 3-for-5 outing, highlighted by two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored.
– McLain and Pitarra were each 2-for-4, while Deatherage, Edwards and Shepard each had one hit.
– Freshman David Harrison earned the start on the mound and was relieved by Joe O’Donnell.
– O’Donnell went 2.1 innings with three strikeouts before handing the ball to Michael Bienlien, who threw 3.1 innings with four strikeouts.
– Connor Centala took over on the mound next and Nick Swiney pitched the final third of the game.

Related Topics:
Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NC State Baseball

#20 NC State Falls to #7 FSU 1-8 in Sunday Afternoon Bout

Published

5 hours ago

on

May 5, 2024

By

The 20th ranked NC State Baseball team lost to #7 FSU 1-8 on the road this afternoon. After yesterday’s game was cancelled due to weather, the Wolfpack head back to Raleigh splitting the series with the Seminoles.

Sophomore Dominic Fritton gave up 5 earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched, walking 4. Senior Logan Whitaker made his return from injury, and gave up 3 earned runs in 1 inning pitched, walking 3. The Wolfpack bullpen wouldn’t allow another run the rest of the way, but their bats simply couldn’t muster any runs against FSU’s Dorsey and Hults.

The Wolfpack wasn’t without their offensive opportunities. They had 7 hits, which matched FSU’s total. NC State left 10 runners on base, while the Seminoles left 7.

Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makerewicz and Sophomore 2nd Baseman Matt Heavner both had 2 hits. Part of the Wolfpack’s problem, was the fact that only 1 of their 7 hits was an extra-base hit, and that was a Double by A-Mak. Makerewicz is batting .356 on the year.

Despite the loss, NC State heads into this week having clinched a spot in the 2024 ACC Tournament.

With a 13-10 ACC record, the Wolfpack currently sit 3rd in the Atlantic Division.

NC State will host Norfolk St. in a midweek game on Tuesday night at 7pm, and then will hit the road for a series against #11 Virginia next weekend.

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

#20 NC State Upsets #7 FSU 8-7 in Game 1 Down in Tallahassee

Published

2 days ago

on

May 3, 2024

By

#20 NC State upset #7 Florida St. 8-7 in the series opener down in Tallahassee this evening.

Freshman Cooper Consiglio was the hero on the mound this evening, coming in after Senior Sam Highfill and Sophomore Shane Van Dam, pitching 4.1 innings, while giving up only 1 earned run and striking out 5. It was probably Consiglio’s best performance of his collegiate career, marking the first time he’s ever pitched 4 innings, and given up 1 run or less. He now is 2-4 on the year with a 5.66 ERA.

Sophomore Derrick Smith picked up his 4th Save of the year, failing to give up a hit in 1.2 innings pitched, while striking out 3.

Junior Catcher Jacob Cozart got things started off for the Wolfpack in the Top of the 2nd hitting his 9th Home Run in the past 9 games, and his 15th of the year.

Sophomore 2nd Baseman Matt Heavner led the Pack with 2 RBI’s tonight. The first followed Cozart’s bomb, hitting a Single in the Top of the 2nd that scored Sophomore Left Fielder Luke Nixon. Then Junior Chase Nixon hit a Single, and 2 NC State runners scored due to a wild throw.

Then in the Top of the 3rd, Heavner knocked in another run with a Sac Bunt, that scored Luke Nixon.

Then Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III hit an RBI Single that scored Chase Nixon, giving the Wolfpack a 6-2 lead.

In the Top of the 6th, Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz hit a solo Home Run, his 18th of the season.

In the same inning, Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth scored on a wild pitch, giving the Wolfpack their 8th run of the evening.

Senior starting Pitcher Sam Highfill was only able to pitch 2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs. Sophomore Shane Van Dam continues to struggle in relief, giving up 3 earned runs in 1 inning. His ERA is now up to 5.17. Van Dam left the game with an injury, which might have led to his exit.

The Wolfpack and the Seminoles will play Game 2 tomorrow at 7pm.

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

NC State Baseball Bracketology Report Heading Into Series Against FSU

Published

4 days ago

on

May 2, 2024

By

#20 NC State will head down to Tallahassee tomorrow for a 3-game series against #7 FSU. Before they do, here’s a look at where NC State is projected to land in the 2024 NCAA Tournament as things currently stand.

Last week, both D1Baseball and Baseball America projected the Wolfpack to play as a #2 seed in the Greenville Regional (ECU), with the former projecting the Pirates to be a #6 seed, and the latter projecting them to be a #8 seed.

This week, D1Baseball has NC State as a #2 seed in the Lexington Regional, with Kentucky as a #5 seed. Baseball America still has the Wolfpack as a #2 seed in the Greenville Region, with the Pirates still sitting as a #8 seed.

D1Baseball

Baseball America

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

#20 NC State Loses 4-5 to UNCW, Losing 5th Straight Midweek Game

Published

5 days ago

on

April 30, 2024

By

#20 NC State lost to UNC-Wilmington 4-5 this evening at home, losing their 5th straight midweek game. The Wolfpack were swept by the Seahawks this year, ironically losing 4-5 down in Wilmington on April 9th.

Freshman Ryan Marohn got the starting nod, and he was excellent, giving up 1 earned run in 5 innings pitched, striking out 7. It was arguably his best start since his collegiate debut against VCU in the opening series.

Sophomore Shane Van Dam was Mr. Reliable through much of the season, but he hasn’t had his best stuff as of late. This evening, he faced four batters, hitting 2, walking another, and surrendering a hit to the other. Van Dam failed to record an out, and gave up 3 earned runs. Heading into the UNC game back on April 18th, Van Dam had a 2.63 ERA. After the past 4 appearances, his ERA has shot up to 3.96.

Freshman Jacob Dudan settled things down, pitching 4 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 hit, while striking out 5.

Unfortunately, Sophomore Derrick Smith allowed the Seahawks to score a run in the Top of the 10th, which was enough for the opposing team to leave Raleigh with a win, with NC State failing to score a run in the final 5 frames.

Junior Jacob Cozart continues an insane power surge, hitting two more Home Runs tonight. Cozart has hit 7 Home Runs in the past 6 games.

Cozart now has 14 Home Runs on the year. His previous career high was 11.

Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington also hit a Solo Home Run, his 11th bomb of the year.

On Friday, the Wolfpack will head down to Tallahassee for a 3-game series against #7 Florida State.

Continue Reading