Connect with us

NC State Baseball

Thoughts on NC State Baseball After 2 Series

Published

2 months ago

on

#14 NC State is 4-2, winning their first two series of the 2024 season against VCU and Hawaii, taking 2 of 3 in both series. Before the Wolfpack hosts Queens today at 2pm, let’s breakdown what we’ve seen out of NC State through the first 6 games.

The Bats are on Fire

The Wolfpack bats have been scorching. As a team, NC State is batting .339 with an OPS of .945.

I know it’s only been 6 games, but the players NC State picked up out of the Transfer Portal have been lights out. 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington (SR), who transferred in from Wichita St., is batting .407 (team high for starters), with an OPS of .987. His 11 hits are tops on the squad, and his 4 extra base hits (4 2B) are tied for the most on the team. Left Fielder Josh Hogue (SO), who was a JUCO Transfer, is batting .391. 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz (SR), who transferred in from East Carolina, has been the Wolfpack’s most productive offensive player through 6 games. He is batting .360 with an OPS of 1.208, which leads the team. He also leads the Wolfpack in Runs (9), Home Runs (3), RBI’s (11), and ranks 2nd on the team in Walks (4).

The Wolfpack players who returned from last year are doing their thing as well.

Preseason All-American Catcher Jacob Cozart (JR) is 2nd on the team with an OPS of 1.154, and leads the Wolfpack with 6 walks. He’s batting .364 with 2 Home Runs.

A healthy Noah Soles is an essential part of the Wolfpack’s offensive attack. Batting leadoff, Soles is batting .333, ranks 2nd in Hits (9) and Runs (8). He also has 2 Home Runs.

Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III started the season cold, but head into today’s game batting .320.

Redshirt Freshman Drew Lanphere has been solid at DH, batting .357 through 6 games.

Freshman Luke Nixon’s production might eventually push the coaching staff to start him over Matt Heavner (SO) at 2nd Base. Nixon is batting .429, but he’s only been to the plate 7 times. To give Heavner credit, his Batting Average is a dismal .235, but his OPS is .904.

Freshman Alex Sosa has only played in 2 games thus far, but he has been impressive, batting .429. There’s no denying that Sosa is talented. I didn’t expect him to play Catcher instead of Cozart, but was wondering if he would settle in at Designated Hitter. The good news is the Wolfpack has talented depth, and another Freshman (RS) in Drew Lamphere has competed for that spot, and has played in 5 games, batting .357, as mentioned above.

Defensive Miscues Still Prevail 

Last year, NC State’s fielding percentage of .963 was tied for last in the ACC. Currently, the Wolfpack’s fielding percentage is actually worse than last year, sitting at .958. NC State has committed 9 errors in 6 games, giving up 10 unearned runs. That’s not a recipe for winning baseball games. There’s a lot of new players, and hopefully this is just a sign of new teammates learning how to play together.

Pitchers are Putting Too Many Batters on Base

NC State’s ERA as an entire pitching staff is 5.19. One of the reasons that number is so high, is because the Wolfpack pitchers have walked 41 batters, compared to 51 strikeouts. When you throw in the fact that they have hit 10 batters, that ratio of BB/HBP:K is literally 51:51. No wonder the WHIP of the Wolfpack’s pitching staff is an astounding 1.73. Clean up giving batters free bases, and the stats of this pitching staff will look leaps and bounds better.

Related Topics:

Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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

NC State Baseball

#23 NC State Falls 5-9 in Game 2 Against #10 UVA

Published

21 hours ago

on

May 11, 2024

By

#23 NC State tried to make another comeback effort in Game 2 against #10 UVA, but it wouldn’t be enough, falling 5-9 to the Cavaliers.

Sophomore Dominic Fritton gave up 6 runs in 5.2 innings pitched, striking out 4. His 106 pitches tied a season high.

The Wolfpack did manage to collect 8 Hits, but it was far from matching the Cavs 14.

Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington had the hot bat for the Pack, going 3 for 4 with, a Home Run, 2 Runs and 2 RBI’s. The Home Run was Pennington’s 13th of the year.

Sophomore Center Fielder Eli Serrano III had the only other multi-hit performance, going 2-5 with a Double, a Run and an RBI.

Serrano III and Pennington made up for 5 of NC State’s 8 hits.

With a win tomorrow in the rubber match, NC State will look to win their first series against UVA since 2019, and their first in Charlottesville since 2016.

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

NC State Relief Pitcher Shane Van Dam Out for Remainder of the Year with UCL Injury

Published

1 day ago

on

May 11, 2024

By

NC State Head Coach Elliott Avent confirmed last night that Sophomore Relief Pitcher Shane Van Dam will miss the remainder of the season with a UCL injury, and will require Tommy John Surgery.

Van Dam has served as the Wolfpack’s anchor in Middle Relief. He finished his first season in Raleigh with a 4-0 record and a 4.58 ERA, striking out 38 batters in 37.1 innings.

Van Dam was a tremendous pickup for the Wolfpack out of the Portal, transferring in from SUNY Cortland, a Division III school, where he also played Quarterback.

Last night, Freshman Jacob Dudan served in Van Dam’s role, as the next man up. Dudan has a 2-2 record with a 4.63 ERA, striking out 37 batters in 35 innings pitched.

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

#23 NC State Comes From Behind to Defeat #10 UVA 7-5 in Series Opener

Published

1 day ago

on

May 11, 2024

By

#23 NC State takes down #10 UVA 7-5 on the road in the series opener on the road.

Senior Sam Highfill pitched a Quality Start, giving up 3 earned runs in 6 innings, striking out 6. Freshman Jacob Dudan surrendered 2 earned runs in 3 innings pitched, striking out three.

Highfill is now 5-1 on the year.

Senior 3rd Baseman Alec Makarewicz started things off with an RBI Single in the Top of the 1st Inning.

In the Top of the 5th inning, Junior Shortstop Brandon Butterworth hit a solo shot to tie the game at three apiece.

In the Top of the 7th, a pair of Freshman  gave the Pack the lead. Left Fielder Luke Nixon and Designated Hitter Alex Sosa hit back-to-back RBI Singles.

In the Top of the 8th, Senior 1st Baseman Garrett Pennington hit a 2-Run Home Run to seal the deal.

Game 2 will be today at Noon.

Continue Reading

NC State Baseball

NC State Baseball Bracketology Report Heading Into Series Against UVA

Published

3 days ago

on

May 9, 2024

By

Since the last 2024 Baseball Bracketology report, NC State won 1 of 2 against #8 FSU on the road, and shutout Norfolk St. 18-0 in a midweek game at Doak Field earlier this week. Before the Wolfpack hit the road to face #10 UVA in a 3-game series this weekend, here’s a look at where NC State is projected to land in the 2024 NCAA Tournament as things currently stand.

Last week, D1Baseball had NC State slated as a #2 seed in the Lexington Regional, with #5 seed Kentucky. This week, they moved the Wolfpack back to the Greenville Regional with #8 seed ECU.

D1Baseball

Last week, Baseball America had the Wolfpack as a #2 seed in the Greenville Regional with the #8 seeded Pirates. This week, they have NC State as a #2 seed in the Columbia Regional with #12 seed South Carolina.

Baseball America

Continue Reading