After splitting the first two games of their weekend series against Florida State, Wolfpack Baseball looks to end its regular season on a high note Saturday at 1pm with a win in Tallahassee against the top ranked Seminoles in game three.
While next week’s ACC Tournament is all but set, there is still plenty to play for. A win today would give the Pack 20 conference wins for the first time ever, as well as a series win in Tallahassee, also for the first time ever. It would also give a huge boost to the Pack’s case for a national seed in the NCAA Tournament.
With yesterday’s win over the Wolfpack, Florida State clinched the #1 seed in the ACC Tournament. It would not be surprising to see this reflected in the Seminoles’ lineup and pitching decisions today as they try to get their players a little extra rest before Wednesday. In all likelihood, yesterday’s result will mean the Pack will not see FSU’s ace Mike Compton make an appearance this weekend.
For more on State’s victory over the Seminoles in Thursday’s opening game, you can go here.
Game Two Media Coverage
State Edged 3-2 at No. 1 Florida State to Even Series – GoPack.com
Trea Turner scored for the 18th time in the Wolfpack’s last 19 games, crossing the plate in the first inning for the eighth time in the last 12 games. Turner finished the day 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run, and two stolen bases to improve to an NCAA-leading 54-for-58 on the season, nine shy of Brian Roberts’s ACC single-season record.
Ryan Mathews extended the ACC’s longest active hitting streak to 20 games in a 1-for-3 performance with an RBI on a sac fly in the first. Jake Fincher went 2-for-3 on the night. Logan Ratledge scored once in a 1-for-2 effort with a double. Danny Canela doubled in the eighth, his only hit in a 1-for-3 game.
Starter Ethan Ogburn (4-3) took a tough luck loss on six innings, allowing three earned on nine hits and one walk after leaving with the go-ahead run on base. Chris Overman pitched the final two innings, holding the Seminoles hitless and striking out two.
Noles Claim Top Seed With Win Over NC State – Seminoles.com
With the win, Florida State clinched the No. 1 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament which will be held in Greensboro, N.C. beginning Wednesday, May 23. It marks the ninth time in school history the Seminoles have earned the top-seed in the tournament.
“We wanted this really badly,” said head coach Mike Martin. “We had another goal but fell short on it, we wanted to set the league record for wins, but Maryland, Clemson and NC State said `not while we are playing.’ Take your hat off to our baseball team. They did a great job tonight. It was good and big win for our program.”
Prior to Friday’s game against FSU, PerfectGame.org tabbed the Pack as their team of the day, and thinks one more win in Tallahassee might just get a national seed.
TEAM OF THE DAY: North Carolina State — The Wolfpack already is in very good shape to earn an NCAA Regional host, but could wind up being a national seed as well if they finish the Florida State series with another win. N.C. State starting pitcher Carlos Rodon had a rough night on the mound, but designated hitter Ryan Mathews smacked a pair of homers and knocked in four runs, as the Wolfpack shocked FSU 10-5.
Rodon Watch
Carlos Rodon has been named to both the Dick Howser Player of the Year semifinalist list (the only freshman to make the list)….
DALLAS – NC State’s Carlos Rodon represents the only freshman in the country named a Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist, announced Friday by the NCBWA.
The Dick Howser Trophy is given annually to the top college baseball player in the nation after two rounds of national voting, and is presented by Easton Foundations.
Rodon made the cut as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association trimmed its list of candidates to 35 names. The ACC has three players among the semifinalists.
The Holly Springs, N.C. native continues to build his case as the top freshman in the NCAA with the semifinalist mention. Rodon also represents the only freshman remaining in contention for the Golden Spikes Award.
….as well as the College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year watch list.
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Game Three – Saturday
Check what I said earlier, RHP Mike Compton (9-1, 2.95 ERA) getting the start for FSU today (vs. Anthony Tzamtzis for the Pack).
Avent is back in the dugout.
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1st inning
TOP(NCSU) – Trea Turner goes down swinging to lead things off, Chris Diaz singles up the middle then Canela grounds into the double play (4-6-3). Nothing for the Pack, FSU coming to bat.
BOTTOM(FSU) – FSU’s Sherman Johnson fouls out to the left side…Travis draws a one out walk then advances to second on a wild pitch, Ramsey then walks, as does Boyd to load the bases with one away…then McGee also walks, scoring Travis from third…bases still loaded, still one away…Delph then scores Ramsey on a sac fly…then Nogowski pops out to short to end it. So the Pack hands the ‘Noles a two run gift and now trail 2-0 at the end of the first. I guess the good news is that despite 4 walks in the inning, the no hitter is still alive.
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2nd inning
TOP(NCSU) – Ryan Mathews leads off with an infield single then Senay lines out to short…Fincher singles to right moving Mathews to second…Ciencin flies out to center, then Brett Austin K’s looking.
BOTTOM(FSU) – Miller flies out to center, Brizuela K’s looking, then Johnson draws a two out walk…Travis then doubles to the wall in center scoring Johnson….And that’ll be the end of Tzamtzis’ day as DJ Thomas will enter in relief….Ramsey and Boyd both draw walks to once again load the bases for FSU…McGee then K’s swinging to end the inning. ‘Noles pick up one more, now lead 3-0.
Line on Tzamtzis today: 1.2 IP, 3 runs on 1 hit, 1 K, 5 BB (and 2 wild pitches I believe)
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3rd inning
TOP(NCSU) – Ratledge fouls out to the right side and Turner flies out to first…Diaz draws a two out walk then Canela goes down swinging. Pack still trails 3-0.
BOTTOM(FSU) – Delph out on the bunt attempt (2-3)…Nogowski draws a one out walk and Miller K’s swinging…Brizuela with a bunt single, advances Nogowski to 2nd, then Nogowski advances to 3rd on the throwing error (e1)…then Johnson flies out to left to end the threat. Still 3-0 FSU.
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4th inning
TOP(NCSU) – Ryan Mathews pops out to 2nd and Senay grounds out to first (3u), then Fincher singles up the middle…Ciencin reaches on a fielder’s choice and Fincher advances to second on a throwing error (e5)…Austin K’s swinging to end it.
BOTTOM(FSU) – Travis draws a four pitch leadoff walk then advances to 2nd on a throwing error (e2) on an attempted pickoff, then Ramsey walks (10 on the day so far)…Boyd flies out to right, Travis tags on the play and advances to 3rd (1st and 3rd, one down)….Pack will make a pitching change, Vance Williams on in relief of DJ Thomas….Ramsey steals second, then McGee is HBP to load the bases with one away…Delph then singles down the left field line scoring Travis and Ramsey, McGee moves to third and Delph to second on a throwing error (e7)…Nogowski grounds out to second, scoring McGee and moving Delph to third…then Miller K’s swinging to bring the inning to a merciful end. ‘Noles pick up 3 more runs, now lead 6-0 after four complete.
Line on Thomas today: 1.2 IP, 2 runs on one hit, 2K’s, 5 BB.
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5th inning
TOP(NCSU) – Ratledge flies out to center, Turner K’s swinging, Diaz grounds out to second.
BOTTOM(FSU) – Brizuela flies out to center and Johnson K’s swinging…Travis reaches on a fielding error (e4) then Ramsey grounds out to the pitcher (1-3), and the ‘Noles go relatively quietly for once. But they still lead 6-0 after five.
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6th inning
TOP(NCSU) – Canela leads off with a single to left and Ryan Mathews deposits one into the seats for a two run HR…Senay K’s looking, Fincher flies out to center, Ciencin K’s swinging. Pack picks up two on the Mathews HR, trim FSU’s lead to 6-2.
BOTTOM(FSU) – Boyd leads off with a single up the middle then McGee lines out to center…Delph singles to left, moving Boyd to second…Nogowski then grounds into an inning ending double play (4u-3). Still 6-2.
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7th inning
TOP(NCSU) – Luke Weaver on in relief of Compton for FSU…Austin grounds out to first (3-1), Bergquist and Turner both K swinging.
BOTTOM(FSU) – Miller grounds out to second…Brizuela reaches with an infield single, then advances first to third on the Johnson single to right…Travis K’s swinging then Ramsey flies out to center. FSU still up 6-2 after seven.
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8th inning
TOP(NCSU) – Chris Diaz leads off with double down the right field line…Canela K’s swinging, Mathews lines out to second and Senay K’s swinging.
BOTTOM(FSU) – Boyd walks to lead off then McGee is HBP….Pack brings Chris Overman on to relieve Williams….Delph pops up the bunt attempt (scored 3-2), then pinch hitter Stephen Spradling and Miller both K swinging. Still 6-2 FSU, Pack has one last shot. Fincher (6), Ciencin (7) and Austin (8) due up for State in the 9th.
Line on Williams today: 3.2 IP, 1 run on 5 hits, 3 K’s, 1 BB.
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9th inning
TOP(NCSU) – Fincher K’s looking, Ciencin draws a one out walk, then Austin grounds into the inning ending double play (1-6-3).
FSU takes game three 6-2, and take the series.
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Game Three Media Coverage
GoPack.com – Wolfpack Falls 6-2 in Rubber Match at No. 1 Florida State
Ryan Mathews homered for the third time in the series, his sixth in the last seven games, extending the ACC’s longest active hitting streak to 21 games. Mathews hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning to push across both Pack runs, on his way to 2-for-4 outing that included an infield single in the second. The senior from Orlando, Fla. claimed responsibility for eight of State’s 14 runs over the three-game set.
[snip]
Florida State crept ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first with a patient approach. With one out, Devon Travis started a string of four-straight walked Seminole batters to bring in the first run. Josh Delph plated the second with a sac fly to left. The Noles added another in the second to make it 3-0 on Travis’s RBI double with two outs. Sherman Johnson scored from first on the play after reaching via walk.
The Seminoles stretched the lead to 6-0 in the fourth. A pair of walks started the inning, followed by a fly to right to put runners on the corners and a hit batsman to load the bases. Delph drove in two runs with a hard hit grounder toward third that Trea Turner nearly smothered. John Nogowski grounded to the right side to plate the sixth run.
Seminoles.com – FSU Ends Regular Season Downing NC State
On Saturday, Florida State drew 11 walks including 10 in the first four innings to clinch the regular season series from the Wolfpack. The Seminoles have now won 11 straight conference series against NC State in Tallahassee.
I won’t lie. I’m still pretty ticked off about handing game three to FSU. They’re a very good hitting team and they draw a lot of walks because of that, but sometimes you just gotta sac up and throw strikes and make them beat you with the stick. We didn’t (couldn’t ?) do that. If we had, FSU might have beaten us even worse…but at least they would have beaten us instead of us beating ourselves.
Pack finishes the regular season 38-15 (19-11) and will be the #3 seed in the ACC Tournament next week. We’re in Pool B with Carolina, opposite from FSU, so if we can get to Sunday we might be able to get another shot at the ‘Noles. Wake (7) and GT (8) get the last two spots while VT’s season ends with a sweep at the hands of Carolina (Things could always be worse, I guess).
We’ll have a tournament preview up sometime in the next couple days or so.
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