Wolves in Omaha

dogpile

On a night when it seemed that both Mother Nature and #NCStateSh!t might have other ideas, Wolfpack Baseball (49-14) would scratch and claw for everything it got and persevere.  Eventually, after 17 innings and a 77 minute rain delay, the Pack would find a way to get it done as they have so often this season.

More than 7 hours after it began the Pack would top the Rice Owls by a final score of 5-4 to win the Raleigh Super Regional and advance to the College World Series in Omaha for the first time since 1968.

State found themselves in an early hole when Rice’s Christian Stringer jerked a solo HR in the 1st inning to give the Owls a 1-0 advantage.  Stringer would then add another solo shot in 6th, his 3rd of the series, to double the Owl lead.

A Jake Fincher RBI in the top of the 7th would cut the lead in half, but when Rice’s Michael Aquino blasted his own solo HR out to left in the bottom of the 7th, and then the Owls gave the Pack a taste of their own medicine by squeezing home another in the 8th to extend their lead to 4-1, it looked as if the Pack’s Omaha fortunes might rest on the results of a possible Monday rubber match.

But down to their last three outs and needing at least three runs, the Pack went to work.

A Jake Fincher RBI double would plate one run for the Pack, and another would score when the Owls’ Michael Ratteree misplayed the ball in right field.  Two batters later Tarran Senay would get his own RBI double to right to knot the score at 4 and force extra innings.

And then, as if anyone was surprised, the two teams would begin a marathon.

Both teams had their chances to score in the extra frames but each time it seemed fate snuffed them out.  A weather delay would then interrupt the 12th inning, and when the game resumed 77 minutes later it seemed that both teams had settled in for the duration.

Wolfpack reliever Chris Overman would return to the hill for the Pack after the rain delay and pick up where he left off snuffing out a would be Owls’ rally by inducing a double play.  Then Ethan Obgurn would come on for the Pack in the 13th and turn in perhaps the best performance of his career.

Holding the Owls scoreless the rest of the way, Ogburn was able to give the Pack hitters time to figure out Owls’ pitcher John Simms, which they finally did after the Rice hurler had tossed 7 innings of relief work.

Senay would lead off the 17th inning with a single thru the right side, and Brett Williams followed two batters later with a double.  Another Owls’ error in right would score Senay on the play, giving the Pack a 5-4 edge.

But give the Owls credit.  They had absolutely no intentions of going quietly in their half of the 17th.  They would get the potential winning run aboard with the potential tying run as far as third base with the night’s big stick, Christian Stringer, coming to bat to face Obgurn.

But on this night Ogburn’s big overhand curve was working well for him and his ability to mix velocity and location kept the Owls’ batters off balance.  Stringer would do no more than lift a weak fly ball the other way to left field, which Bryan Adametz would haul in easily for the final out to preserve the 5-4 win and send the Pack to Omaha.

Ogburn would go 5.0 innings scattering 3 hits and giving up no runs to earn the win (5-3).  He struck out 6 and walked no one on the night.

Jake Fincher was 2 for 7 on the night with a double and 2 RBIs, while Tarran Senay would also post a 2 for 7 effort with a double and an RBI of his own.  Trea Turner had a three hit night as did Brett Williams, while Jake Armstrong and Logan Ratledge would each hit safely twice on the night.

LInks

NC State Advances to College World Series (GoPack.com)

Box Score

Senay’s run in 17th inning sends NC State to CWS for first time since 1968 (NCAA.com)

N.C. State Wolfpack is back in College World Series, first time since ’68, with 17-inning win (CharlotteObserver.com)

NC State wins in record fashion (ESPN.com)

NC State tops Rice 5-4 in 17 inings, advances to College World Series (WRALSportsFan.com)

The Wolfpack now moves on to the College World Series for the first time in 45 years, which gets underway this Saturday, June 15th in Omaha.  The Pack awaits the results of Monday night’s game three in Chapel Hill between the Heels and the ‘Cocks to find out who its first round opponent will be.

Way to go Wolfpack!!!  We are all VERY PROUD!!!  Now, go get some rest and get ready to burn Omaha to the ground.

About Wufpacker

A 2nd generation alumnus and raised since birth to be irrationally dedicated to all things NC State. Class of '88 and '92.

Baseball

73 Responses to Wolves in Omaha

  1. packpowerfan 06/10/2013 at 10:02 AM #

    Love it. Riding the struggle bus with Perdue today, but totally worth the missed sleep (from the game and shredded nerves that kept me up afterward). Can’t wait to see what this team has in store for Omaha!

    Great write up, Wuf; and many thanks for keeping this baseball coverage rolling!

  2. DC_wolf 06/10/2013 at 10:12 AM #

    Wow. Not to overlook the epic, extra-inning effort by ALL the guys: but what a “timely hit” by Tarran Senay WAY back in the top of the 9th to – unbelievebly – send a 3rd run across the plate (when they had only scored 1 run the previous 8 innings), tie the score, then begin the free baseball drama.

    Congratulations to the Cardiac Diamond-Pack, and best of luck in the College World Series! And special thanks to SFN, especially 1 Wufpacker, for keeping us all updated during the rainouts, rain-delays, and extra-innings.

    Oh, & is it the baseball gods (or, NCAA demons) that would have us face either our former manager -OR – our mortal enemies in Omaha?? As D.J. would say: “BRING IT”.

  3. wufpup76 06/10/2013 at 10:19 AM #

    Odds on them having a 20+ inning affair in Omaha – 3:1 for.

    Congrats to the team, awesome accomplishment. Got to see the last few innings – hat tip to the crowd that was able to stick around / come back after the rain delay.

    Go Pack!

  4. TheCOWDOG 06/10/2013 at 10:21 AM #

    I waited patiently for the real baseball scribe. Thanks Wuf, for keeping the site vibrant. This is your turf, man. Make no mistake.

    I always look for the little things in the game, and last night’s pretty work goes to Trea Turner for being exactly where he needed to be.

    If he over runs that chopper that Ratledge let get between the wickets, we got a tie game in the bottom of the 17th…and possibly worse.

  5. Gowolves 06/10/2013 at 10:32 AM #

    CD-I was thinking the same thing on that play.

    Dc Wolf-Tanner is no longer the coach for USC. He became AD at the end of last year(subsequently resigned as baseball coach) and I think they promoted from with in.

  6. Wufpacker 06/10/2013 at 10:32 AM #

    Sorry to keep you waiting ‘Dog.

    I guess I was tired or something after the game last night.

    Better late than never I suppose.

  7. BJD95 06/10/2013 at 10:33 AM #

    Yes, Turner was Johnny-on-the-spot. Great situational awareness. Doing the little things right preserved the win.

    Couldn’t be prouder of the efforts of every player and staff member. Kudos to Coach Avent for acknowledging the high expectations of DY, then embracing and meeting them. There’s an object lesson in that.

  8. 4in12 06/10/2013 at 10:42 AM #

    I’m in Maryland. In our area, ESPN dropped TV coverage of the game after the 8th inning to switch to the UVa game. I had to quick fire up ESPN3 to watch the comeback. When we had tied the game they put the game back on TV. When the ad says ESPN shows every minute of every game don’t believe it.

  9. 4in12 06/10/2013 at 10:44 AM #

    The team deserved the celebration but they need to remember that they only won the battle not the war. Don’t be satisfied to just make it to Omaha!

  10. CaptainCraptacular 06/10/2013 at 11:03 AM #

    Indiana, Louisville, UCLA, NCSU…… Is this a baseball CWS or a basketball final 4 circa mid 70s?

  11. eas 06/10/2013 at 11:15 AM #

    How ESPN could drop a game that went 17 innings in order to start the UVA game is crazy. I get the coverage thing but you have a top game in extra innings……at least show a few minutes here or there

  12. tjfoose1 06/10/2013 at 11:20 AM #

    Headed to Vegas on Wednesday. There might be a sports book in my future.

  13. DC_wolf 06/10/2013 at 11:22 AM #

    Ugh, Gowolves – thanks for the 4-1-1. Must say, I don’t keep tabs on USC or Tanner much, for that matter…

    All the more reason to hope the ‘Cocks pound the Holes tonight.

  14. tjfoose1 06/10/2013 at 11:26 AM #

    Yep, Tanner is AD and SoCar did hire from within. For added “intrigue”, that hire is a u*nc alum and former u*nc assistant under Fox, so the Pack faces a hole no matter who wins tonight, it’s just a matter of how many.

  15. Wufpacker 06/10/2013 at 11:29 AM #

    “hope the ‘Cocks pound the Holes”

    *snicker*

  16. bill.onthebeach 06/10/2013 at 11:49 AM #

    one of the things that makes baseball…. BASEBALL and thereby totally different from any other sport…. is it’s Library of class cliches…. and how they most always relate directly to every other phase of life….

    As in…. the many different versions of ….

    “Do the little things consistently right and the big things will take care of themselves….”

    To wit…. both teams in last night’s marathon., as well as Saturday’s game.. did exceptionally well…

    Two “little” plays– either way– in two games and the Rice Owls would be headed to Omaha.

    If I was the Pack’s Head coach…. I would have had the Rice players and coaches over for our team breakfast this morning.

    By all appearances… Rice is a bunch of classy guys….

  17. GAWolf 06/10/2013 at 12:04 PM #

    Bill: Not sure where you sit at the Doak, but from my perspective I saw Rice do a lot of woofing and chest bumping. Our guys do substantially less on-field displays, and I’m substantially more impressed with how we handle ourselves than not only Rice but several other teams we’ve faced at home over the last month or so. Credit for that shoudl go to our team and staff.

    The real kicker and most prime example was FSU’s pitchers, Stitz and Smith, acting an absolute fool yucking it up for the cameras at the end of our game 3. Granted, they spanked our butts all over the field that weekend, but they have since then perhaps been the victim of their own good times at our expense. We’ve played better and those guys have stunk it up… especially Smith. My guess is if they could go back in time they would have handled their ‘tudes a little differently in the closing innings of the last series when they played worth two craps.

  18. Master 06/10/2013 at 12:13 PM #

    So who do we won’t to play in the CWS opener? The heels to exact some revenge or the Cocks to whip an SEC team?

  19. Wufpacker 06/10/2013 at 12:15 PM #

    I’m with GA here.

    Three words for Rice and how they conduct themselves (admittedly stolen from BJD on last night’s game thread)….

    Monkey. Dancing. Asshole.

    But then again I’ve seen a lot of the same type of stuff from a lot of the teams/players during this tournament.

    Act like ya been there before fellas.

  20. archdalepack 06/10/2013 at 12:16 PM #

    Watched most of both games, but had to leave room for health reasons. Aggressive baseball creates excitement. Can’t remember the last time I yelled at the TV during a state baseball game. Congratulations Pack.

  21. tjfoose1 06/10/2013 at 12:25 PM #

    “By all appearances… Rice is a bunch of classy guys….”

    As a whole, maybe, appeared that way. However, there are certainly some exceptions on their team.

    I concur with “Monkey. Dancing. Asshole.”

    When I project how I think they would have reacted had Mr Monkey Dancing Asshole himself knocked in two runs with his last at bat as opposed to flying out to left to end the game, well…. my projection of how I expect he, and they, would have reacted is anything but class.

    Too bad a few assholes tainted the team, but that’s how it goes. I give kudos to their coach though, with point deductions for allowing that kind of behavior.

  22. 4in12 06/10/2013 at 12:37 PM #

    The ape routine was silly but I never saw Rice do it as a taunt toward us. It seemed to me to be just stupidity among teammates. I don’t have a problem with that – other than I had to watch it.

  23. tjfoose1 06/10/2013 at 12:38 PM #

    By the way, even with yesterday’s record performance earning the Pack its first trip to Omaha since ’68, the latest post on the forums is dated 06/08/13 at 2pm.

    I think it might be getting close to officially posting a time of death.

  24. TheCOWDOG 06/10/2013 at 12:52 PM #

    Time of death has passed on the forums. Wuf and State baseball has kept the front page juiced, though.

  25. Codebrown 06/10/2013 at 1:11 PM #

    Marathon Pack!

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