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WPN Shows Love for NC State Baseball On Their Return to Campus

Published

3 years ago

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Cover photo from The Wolfpacker

As soon as news broke that the team would be arriving back in Raleigh Saturday night, the word spread like wild fire. Hundreds upon hundreds of fans, athletes, friends and family took to the streets and then moved inside Doak Field to give a standing ovation to this amazing team.

What followed was an emotional, loud (with both boos and cheers) half hour, where Avent and a handful of players made it known they loved WPN. Avent began the evening for thanking everyone for their support and saying something he said he wouldn’t ever do, call a team “the best.”

“You know I love NC State…and you know I love all our teams. I hate to use the word ‘best’, but I don’t think we’ve had a group of players that showed so much heart and character and fought through so many things. To not only bring so much joy to all the Wolfpack fans, but they captured the heart of the whole nation.”

On a more somber note, Avent described having to wake players up at just past midnight, to get them downstairs for a team meeting. In the meeting, it was announced their season was over. What followed was emotion and tears and a decision to walk back to the ballpark in Omaha, for a team photo that they had yet to do. Unreal.

Avent closed out the gathering, letting the crowd know three things that will never be forgotten;

  1. The class and the dignity of which these men handled that situation.
  2. Tonight, coming back on this bus and this memory will be etched in our minds forever…the appreciation, respect and the passion of the great Wolfpack Nation.
  3. The 2021 Wolfpack team that won the National Championship

Murr, Highfill, Tatum and others also came forward to show their love. Highfill, bashful as always, got a loud “Vandy’s Daddy” chant.

In short…this is amazing. If there was more time allotted, can guarantee another 500 folks would have been there. If you’re a player on the current team, you’ll remember this forever and it will reignite that fire of why you’re at State and the work still left. If you’re a prospect or commit, the fever pitch of WPN is a sign that this program has the chance to do big things.

Now build a new ballpark.

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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

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3 hours 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

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17 hours 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

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3 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

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4 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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