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Blind Resumes of the College World Series

Published

3 years ago

on

It was a whirlwind to get here, but yet this week seems to have gone forever. NC State takes the field in the opening game of the 2021 College World Series Saturday, against Stanford. This year more than any other season, has big time potential for some wild games and results. So let’s play a little game, shall we?

College World Series Setup

Quick reminder of CWS format. Eight teams are divided into two groups. Double-elimination style, until only one school emerges from both brackets. Those two teams meet for all the marbles in a three-game series.

Bring Me Thy Resumes!

We covered it before, nobody likes State’s chances. Whether it’s Vegas’ +1200 odds, or ACC Insiders 4.2% chance, Wolfpack is getting no love.

For diehard State fans, you’ll probably guess these, for everyone else, WELCOME TO THE SHOW! Below are three teams and their corresponding stats…One is State, the other two are the top picks to win the CWS, Vanderbilt and Texas. (Bold for category leaders).

Team A
Away/Neutral Record: 13-9
Team Batting Average: .297
Runs Per Game: 7.13
Home Runs Per Game: 1.43
Team Fielding Percentage: .976
Team ERA: 3.37

 

Team B
Away/Neutral Record: 22-6
Team Batting Average: .289
Runs Per Game: 7.04
Home Runs Per Game: 1.68
Team Fielding Percentage: .983
Team ERA: 5.12

 

Team C
Away/Neutral Record: 15-10
Team Batting Average: .281
Runs Per Game: 6.84
Home Runs Per Game: 1.02
Team Fielding Percentage: .980
Team ERA: 2.89

 

Ready?

 

Who is who?

 

Team A: Vanderbilt    Team B: NC State    Team C: Texas

Road and neutral record is HUGE, considering every game of CWS is neutral (duh). State has a monstrous advantage going 22-6 this year (and that includes going 4-5 against nationally ranked teams THIS postseason run). Vandy has the advantage on batting average and runs, but State is so close behind. Dingers is all Pack Power. State also wins for being super clean defensively. The biggest red flag is team ERA. The games at the start of the season and the recent 21-1 thumping by Arkansas crushed State’s numbers, but even without those stinkers, probably still third in this stellar group.

We’ll say this until the last pitch of the season; State has the starting arms and that’s it. Full confidence in Johnston, Highfill, Willadsen and Villaman. Justice has come on STRONG as a closer. In between, not as pretty.

Where State has the advantage is hitting. This order, 1 through 9, on any given day can go off. One day McDonough will go for two in a game. Then Torres just decides to put together an amazing three-game stretch. Butler gets hot again, batting insane numbers. Brown becomes Regional MVP. They NEED to show up for State to win.

In the end, based on records, hitting, fielding and pitching…State actually has more advantages than the top two odds on favorites this CWS.

Now we just have to play the ACTUAL games. #GoPack

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

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NC State Baseball

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

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10 hours 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

2 days ago

on

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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NC State Baseball

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

Published

3 days ago

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April 30, 2024

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#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.

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NC State Baseball

NC State Outfielder Josh Hogue Out for Remainder of the Season

Published

5 days ago

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April 29, 2024

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NC State will be without Sophomore Right Fielder Josh Hogue for the remainder of the season. Hogue unfortunately suffered a fractured leg due to a collision with Center Fielder Eli Serrano III on Saturday, with both players diving for a ball in the outfield.

Hogue will have to undergo surgery, and he is expected to be out 4 months.

This is a huge loss for the Wolfpack. Hogue has been batting 3rd in NC State’s lineup, with the 3rd best batting average on the squad (.314) and 4th best OPS (.848).

On Sunday, Freshman 2nd Baseman Luke Nixon moved out to Right Field to fill the void, and his brother Chase Nixon was in Right. Starter Senior Noah Soles has been out since the Notre Dame Series at the end of March, but he has been taking batting practice and should be returning soon.

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