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NC State Baseball Sweeps Regional to Move to Sweet 16 Super Regionals

Published

3 years ago

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State came in the favorite to advance and they took the minimal amount of games to do it. Even though State was the #2 seed in the Ruston Region (host Louisiana Tech), the Wolfpack left no doubt who the best team was.

State started with an 8-1 win over Alabama, before beating LA Tech twice in a row 8-3 and 14-7. With the two true road games, State is now an astounding 17-3 on the road. It would have seemed they would be playing Arkansas next, who is the #1 ranked team in the country, but a slight delay due to an upset win by Nebraska, means State will have to wait until Monday night to determine their next opponent. Regardless, the Super Regional will be in Fayetteville.

 

Hitting

Just going to say it right away to be done with it…wish these bats showed up against the Dookies…moving on. To put up 30 runs in three games is amazing. To do it in the Regionals, with 22 of those coming against the top seed and home team is even more incredible. We thought that dingers could be the key, and boy were they ever with seven homers over the extended weekend.

Pre-season we marked Devonte Brown as the player with the biggest “Breakout Potential”. Just realizing now that we forgot to add “Postseason” to that line, so we 10000% just NAILED that prediction. In the three game sweep, Brown went 6-11 with 3 HRs, 1 3B and 7 RBIs. The breakout performance now gives the Pack, five players in double-digit dingers.

But truly, the top of the lineup was the difference maker. Just look at the production from the top four spots (also Brown was batting 7th and Tresh 6th, so teams are just pooping their pants at this point):

Murr: 8-15 (.533) 2 RBIs
McDonough: 6-15 (.400), 4 RBIs
Butler: 4-10 (.400), 5 RBIs
Tatum 6-11 (.545), 2 RBIs

 

Pitching

Good Lord what a turnaround. In my wildest dreams I’d never imagine the confidence that this staff has at this point in the season. Reid Johnston wins yet again (now 8-2 on the season) with an eight inning, seven strikeout, 1 run game. Furthermore, he was about at a nine pitch per inning pace for the first four innings. Unreal stuff. Then the freshmen took over.

While I had Johnston as my team MVP for the year, I enjoy watching Highfill the most. Aggressive but calm and just getting loads of experience for his future State career. While he had to pitch out of some jams, he still was able to muster a 5.1 inning, no run win. Evan Justice, gave up two dingers, but otherwise had EIGHT STRIKEOUTS in his near four innings of work.

In the final game, Willadsen was solid. In fact if you take away LA Tech’s Bates, Willadsen threw a six inning, no run win. Unfortunately, things don’t work that way and he was on the hook for five.

Overall, you have to feel as though with some combination of Johnston, Highfill, Willadsen, Villaman and Justice, that this team can steal some games against anyone moving forward.

 

Coaching

Simply put, love what Avent is doing and deserves all the credit in the world for turning this around. If they would have won the ACC, I think you could consider this season a massive success already. Awkwardly enough, feel like a trip to Omaha is the line in the sand, as it stands. Regardless, the man is shaping this team to be winners and putting the school in a good place moving forward.

 

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

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NC State Baseball

NC State Baseball is Still Firmly in the Top-25 After Going 1-2 Last Week

Published

1 day ago

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May 6, 2024

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After going 1-2 last week, NC State’s Baseball Team is still firmly in the Top-25. The Wolfpack lost in a midweek game to UNCW (#23 in Perfect Game), and then they split two games against FSU (#5 Baseball America).

Baseball America (-)

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D1Baseball (-3)

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Coaches Poll (+1)

Perfect Game (-)

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NC State Baseball

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

Published

2 days ago

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May 5, 2024

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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.

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NC State Baseball

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

Published

4 days ago

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May 3, 2024

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#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.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Baseball Bracketology Report Heading Into Series Against FSU

Published

6 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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#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

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