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Jump on the NC State Baseball Bandwagon and Enjoy the Ride

Published

3 years ago

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I was having beers with another State grad on Sunday. We were still in disbelief that State Baseball was in Omaha, let alone winning. Part of my buddy’s disbelief, however, was that he didn’t really see it coming. Not because of the 1-8 start or the Game 1 loss to Arkansas, but because he hadn’t been paying attention at all. To be fair to him, he loves State, but with two kids and the rigors of life, he hadn’t been able to just sit down and enjoy it.

And I know how he feels.

In 2013, I was a recent grad hanging out in Raleigh. Had all the time in the world and every once in a while jumped over to Doak to watch Rodon and Turner do their thing. I watched, but in the most casual of contexts. Next thing I know, State’s in Omaha…Another blink of my eyes, they’re done. I had a chance to watch and be actively engaged in a team that had broken down the proverbial 35+ year Omaha wall…and I just didn’t jump in.

 

Joe Wins, But Point Stands

Cut to this week. I’m disappointed because I had this long written out thought about how amazing this State sports season has been. We’ve been competitive in every freaking sport, won team championships and dozens of individual honors. Then Joe Giglio (love that dude) brought it up on his show. Bittersweet to hear folks agree and have the same thought process, crushed I didn’t click ‘publish’ fast enough.

Like…ditto Joe…ditto…

 

Enjoy This Ride, Bandwagoners and All

It’s awesome being a State fan. We have a bigger Brotherhood than Duke…We have the Brotherhood of Pain (Trademarking in progress). Talk to a State fan anywhere in the world and they’ll share their heartbreak stories, before they get to the good times. We feed off the pain, we love the cursed feeling.

So then we have moments like this baseball team. We don’t enjoy the games for what they are, we just think about how it will go wrong. Like tell me you weren’t peeing in your pants for Vandy Part I? Tell me that even with all the confidence in the world that Justice would stand tall, you weren’t wondering how a two-run home run was going to end it?

It’s understandable! This isn’t our first rodeo. Yet, that’s what both Giglio and I are here to say…It doesn’t matter, enjoy this in the moment.

State shouldn’t be in the Final Four. They shouldn’t have even made it to Omaha. Frankly, they probably shouldn’t have even ended the season over .500. Yet here we are nearing July and still watching games.

Regardless of what happens today and into next week, this team has brought all the excitement and drama we could have ever asked for. Call your buddies up and go to a bar and get rowdy. It’s okay if you’re just getting involved now and picking up tidbits of who’s who on this squad. Just live in the moment knowing you’re witnessing the furthest a State baseball team HAS EVER GONE.

Love this State baseball team. I love this State fandom moment. Go Pack.

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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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17 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

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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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NC State Baseball

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

Published

4 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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