Charlotte 6
NC State 3
I guess one could say that Charlotte avenged its 2005 NCAA Basketball Tournament loss on Friday as the 49ers won their FIRST NCAA Tournament baseball game in the school’s history. (The program was 0-4 before Friday).
All seems to be status quo with Eliott Avent’s Wolfpack baseball program. Another ‘acceptable’ regular season with a middling finish in ACC play followed by nothing in the ACC Tournament or NCAA Tournament.
That kind of performance will typically get you an extension in Lee Fowler’s Athletics Department!! Oh wait…”Coach” Fowler decided not to even wait on this one and went gave Avent an extension through the 2010 season in the middle of this season.
Avent has qualified for seven NCAA Tournament appearances in his eleven years as skipper of the Wolfpack’s program. And, much like Herb Sendek on the basketball side of things…that is where Avent’s ‘success’ ends. Despite having coached 19 players who were named first-team All-ACC and having 40 players advance to play professionally, Avent has failed to win an ACC Championship or advance to a single College World Series in his 11 seasons as NC State’s baseball coach. He has advanced to but a single “Super Regional” (think Sweet 16 / Final 8 weekend in basketball).
But, hey…we made the tournament!! Perhaps we should go ahead and give him another contract extension just for being a good guy.
By the way, UNC-CH won the ACC Baseball Championship this year after playing for the National Championship last year. What a role reversal for the programs from when Avent originally took over. Thank goodness that we improved our stadium!! Imagine where we would be without all of that facility enhancement?
I don’t follow that much baseball…so, I would love to learn more about the correlation of the ‘progress’ NC State’s program over the last decade compared to the financial investment that we have made and similarly the correlation of the ‘progress’ Carolina’s program over the same time period compared to the financial investment they have made.
4:48pm: Bottom of the 9th. It’s now or never for the Wolfpack. First out looked to be very close play at first base.
4:28pm: Ryan Pond delivered a single to center field with runners on1st and 2nd and one out to pull the Pack to 6-3. After a pitching change, the Pack hit into a double play therefore ending the comeback hope for the 8th.
4:10pm: State had runners on but couldn’t muster more than 1 run in the 7th.
3:25pm: Charlotte belts a 2-run home run with 2 outs. Looks like State may go to the bullpen. Not looking good.
2:47pm: State averts disaster as the 49ers leave runners on the corners in the top of the 3rd inning.
2:35pm: Charlotte does nothing in the top of the 2nd. State gets a 2-out single and nothing more. The 49ers still lead 3-0 after 2 innings.
2:25pm: Charlotte scores three runs in the top of the first and the Wolfpack fails to score after failing to capitalize on a leadoff single by Dallas Poulk. The 49ers lead 3-0.
Sophomore Eric Surkamp is pitching for the Wolfpack. Surkamp started 15 games for the Wolfpack this year and went 4-4 while comprising a 3.18 ERA while pitching 90 innings and striking out 77.
