Rain & Pack Fall in Game One; Do or Die Sunday in Gainesville

Wolfpack Baseball dropped a soaker to the top seeded Florida Gators Saturday in game one of the NCAA Super Regionals in Gainesville, by a final score of 7-1. By the time they had scored their lone run of the day on senior John Gianis’ pinch hit RBI single, the Pack was already down to its last out and it was all over but the crying. Most Pack fans were already likely praying for a quick and painless end by that point (literally).

On a day when the most interesting thing to talk about was Carlos Rodon’s appearance as a pinch hitter, and in a game that was ugly enough without the weather adding to the misery, the Wolfpack seemed to have their spikes stuck in the mud even before the skies opened up. Two rain delays, nearly three hours total of play stoppage, and seven shutout innings later, and the Pack never could string together enough to even make a dent in Gators’ starter Hudson Randall’s armor. Randall shut the Pack out for seven innings, scattering 6 hits along the way while striking out four against zero walks.

So the Pack has its back against the wall (bad news), but with their best chance taking the ball to the hill tomorrow (good news). Also, the Pack is on a three game win streak in elimination games this post-season (kinda good news) so it’s not something they should be terribly phased by at this point.

Florida will counter Rodon with Soph. RHP Jonathan Crawford (6-2, ERA 2.92).

Game time set for 1pm.

TV: ESPNU

Not much more to say, win or go home. But if you want more details…

 

Media Coverage

GoPack.comPack Drops Rain-Soaked Game One in Gainesville

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – NC State slogged through two rain delays, combining for two hours and 51 minutes worth of stoppage, and dropped game one of the Gainesville Super Regional to Florida 7-1, Saturday at McKethan Stadium.

Danny Canela led the Wolfpack (43-19) with a 2-for-3 outing that included a walk. Ryan Mathews reached safely in his 30th consecutive game in a 1-for-4 effort. Brett Austin went 2-for-4 with a double and State’s only run. Jake Fincher came up with a 2-for-4 afternoon. John Gianis had an RBI single in a pinch hit appearance in the ninth.

Pack starter Ethan Ogburn (5-4) took the loss after giving up five runs, three earned, on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings. Relievers D.J. Thomas, Dillon Frye, Chris Overman, and Danny Healey pitched the rest of the way, combining to hold the Gators (46-18) to two hits and two earned.

Florida starter Hudson Randall shut the Wolfpack out for seven innings, scattering six hits and striking out four before a two-hour rain delay cut his afternoon short. Relievers Greg Larson and Bobby Poyner pitched 2/3 each after Randall left, and Keenan Kish gave up the Pack’s lone run over 2/3 in the ninth.

Box Score

 

ESPN.comNo. 1 Florida beats NC State

NewsObserver.comN.C. State falls to Florida 7-1 in Super Regional opener

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — N.C. State coach Elliott Avent saved his ace rather than have him throw in the Wolfpack’s NCAA Super Regional opener against top overall-seed Florida.

Now, Avent will turn to phenom freshman lefty Carlos Rodon to save the season in an elimination game Sunday following the Wolfpack’s 7-1 loss to the Gators at McKethan Stadium.

“It’s a three-game series,” Avent said. “You’re not going to win it opening day.”

Avent insisted he wanted to stick with what he’s done throughout the season in holding Rodon to the second game of the series. He said he thought about moving Rodon up to the first game, but wanted to keep him on proper rest.

“We didn’t hold him back,” Avent said. “He’s pitched second all year.”

 

ESPN.comN.C. State’s Rodon a tough test for Gators

GatorZone.comGators are Halfway There, but Taking Nothing for Granted

NC State coach Elliott Avent didn’t waste many words when asked in the post-game news conference how he felt about Rodon taking the hill with his club facing elimination.

“Pretty good,” he deadpanned.

He should. Not only are they trotting out arguably the nation’s best pitcher, but the Wolfpack know something about must-win games, having staved off elimination three times in the Raleigh, N.C., regional last week to earn the right to reach the super-sized round two wins shy of Omaha, Neb.

Florida is halfway there, but taking nothing for granted.

“[NC State] had their backs against the wall last weekend, on the brink of elimination. Our players realize that,” said O’Sullivan, who will counter Rodon with sophomore Jonathon Crawford (6-2, 2.92 ERA). “They won’t want their season to end. They want to go to Omaha as bad as we do. So we’re not going to be flat. We’re going to approach it like we’re down 0-1.

 

GatorZone.comNo. 1 Florida Downs No. 11 NC State, 7-1, In Super Regional Opener

AlligatorArmy.comFlorida Baseball Beats N.C. State, 7-1, Takes 1-0 Lead In Super Regional Series

 

Out of Town Scoreboard

TUCSON

  • Arizona 7
  • St. John’s 4
  • Arizona wins series 2-0

LOS ANGELES

  • UCLA 4
  • TCU 1
  • UCLA wins series 2-0

BATON ROUGE

  • Stony Brook 3
  • LSU 1
  • Series tied 1-1

TALLAHASSEE

  • Florida State
  • Stanford
  • PPD RAIN – Resched. For Sunday, 7PM, FSU leads series 1-0

WACO

  • Baylor 8
  • Arkansas 1
  • Baylor leads series 1-0

COLUMBIA

  • South Carolina 5
  • Oklahoma 0
  • SCar leads series 1-0

EUGENE

  • Kent State 7
  • Oregon 6
  • Kent State leads series 1-0

Go Pack!

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

207 Responses to Rain & Pack Fall in Game One; Do or Die Sunday in Gainesville

  1. Lunatic Fringe 06/10/2012 at 6:30 PM #

    vt – I like your optimism.

  2. CaptainCraptacular 06/10/2012 at 6:30 PM #

    Sac bunt? What is he talking about.

  3. Wufpacker 06/10/2012 at 6:31 PM #

    You not getting many strikes a’tall there. No pressure though, so don’t get nervous.

  4. Lunatic Fringe 06/10/2012 at 6:32 PM #

    We are chewing through that bullpen for sure.

  5. BJD95 06/10/2012 at 6:32 PM #

    Plate discipline is so very important.

  6. Wufpacker 06/10/2012 at 6:33 PM #

    I think vt’s overriding intent was sarcasm, not optimism. I could be wrong.

  7. BJD95 06/10/2012 at 6:33 PM #

    If we get two guys on, could have the guy who never plays bunt. Assuming he is an ok bunter, who knows.

  8. BJD95 06/10/2012 at 6:34 PM #

    Whew!!!

  9. Wufpacker 06/10/2012 at 6:35 PM #

    Clyde not a bad hitter, but yes, bunt here.

  10. elvislives 06/10/2012 at 6:35 PM #

    Paging Mr. Mojo…..

  11. Lunatic Fringe 06/10/2012 at 6:35 PM #

    Wufpacker – Let’s go with optimism to avoid any bad juju.

  12. PackAmy 06/10/2012 at 6:35 PM #

    He can’t bunt and the crap part is that the pitch runner didn’t even get to do anything.

  13. BJD95 06/10/2012 at 6:36 PM #

    He’s a terrible bunter, if attempt 1 is any indication.

  14. PackAmy 06/10/2012 at 6:36 PM #

    I lied – he can bunt.

  15. elvislives 06/10/2012 at 6:36 PM #

    Damn near beat it out.

  16. Lunatic Fringe 06/10/2012 at 6:39 PM #

    Walk off HR would be fantastic.

  17. BJD95 06/10/2012 at 6:39 PM #

    I was hoping for the throw to sail down the right field line. Bunt two was damned effective indeed. Diaz will get walked if Turner doesn’t get a hit here.

  18. BAM 06/10/2012 at 6:42 PM #

    This is where there is a lot of pressure on… the 3rd base coach! Def a unappreciated job.

  19. BJD95 06/10/2012 at 6:43 PM #

    Shit, got a hanger and missed it.

  20. Wufpacker 06/10/2012 at 6:44 PM #

    Late as hell called 3rd strike

  21. elvislives 06/10/2012 at 6:44 PM #

    Right there with you Diaz. Shameful call.

  22. Dr. BadgerPack 06/10/2012 at 6:45 PM #

    Damn fine season… and they’ll be better next year. Unlike the past two super regionals, we aren’t losing the whole squad.

  23. BAM 06/10/2012 at 6:46 PM #

    Time to root for Stony Brook. Go SeaWOLVES!

  24. elvislives 06/10/2012 at 6:46 PM #

    Great season indeed, looking forward to next year already.

  25. MickQ 06/10/2012 at 6:50 PM #

    The Pack played a very respectable and competitive game. Nothing to be ashamed of. They lost to the SEC and an extremely talented #1 Florida team. The Pack had its chances, but could not put them away. Wait ’til next year!!!!

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