[Update at bottom of entry]
Well, the first three days of the 2013 ACC Baseball Tournament are in the books. Some interesting storylines and we’ll try to get to all of them.
Most importantly, the Pack has looked pretty strong so far in its first two games, bettering both Clemson and Miami without TOO much difficulty. And better still, without having to expend too many arms from the bullpen.
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Wednesday: Pack 6 – Clemson 3
On Wednesday evening, Wolfpack Baseball opened its tournament play again Clemson. Pack starter Brad Stone took a no decision, but did his job well nonetheless IMHO. He went for five strong innings, keeping the Tigers in check along the way. Stone scattered six hits and gave up 2 runs, but only one earned, and was able to hand it off to the bullpen (Josh Easley, to be specific) which shut the Tiggs down the rest of the way.
Easley would take the win, going the last four innings while giving up only two hits and a single run.
State would score two runs of their own early, one on a Grant Clyde solo blast, the other unearned on an error, but the offense finally would awaken in the 7th inning and break the game open. Jake Fincher would come through with a one out RBI single, with another run scoring on the play on a Clemson throwing error, followed by a 2 RBI double from Brett Austin, giving the Pack a 6-2 advantage.
Clemson would get one back on a Boulware solo shot in the 9th for the final 6-3 score.
State Bests Clemson 6-3 in ACC Tournament Opener (GoPack.com)
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Friday: Pack 7 – Miami 1
After an off day on Thursday, the Wolfpack got back into action to start the day in Friday’s early game, taking on the Miami Hurricanes.
State would jump on the ‘Canes early, scoring four runs in the second frame, mostly on effort, speed and Miami miscues. After a Jake Armstrong infield RBI single, the Pack would push three more across, all unearned.
First, a muffed throw from SS to 2B which should have rightfully ended the inning, allowed Bryan Adametz to score. Then another infield single, this one from Trea Turner who dove into first just ahead of the throw form short, scored both Logan Ratledge and Jake Armstrong.
The Pack would pad their lead with single runs in the 5th (Adametz RBI single), 6th (Austin sac fly), and 9th (Adametz RBI double) for the final margin.
Like Brad Stone, starter Logan Jernigan had a mostly strong effort despite battling some control problems, but would take a no decision after four innings of work. He scattered four hits and gave up only a single run, but managed to walk six batters, including one with the bases loaded to give Miami their only run of the game, and the only two batters he faced in the 5th inning before begin pulled in favor of Andrew Woeck.
But despite some adventures, he too did his job and handed it off to the Wolfpack bullpen, which again slammed the door. Woeck would take the win, throwing three innings of no hit ball, while Ryan Wilkins and Chris Overman would work a scoreless 8th and 9th respectively.
Wolfpack Tops Miami 7-1 on Friday (GoPack.com)
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So, after two relatively non-nerve wracking games (and despite me cussing Jernigan when he walked in a run…but he’s forgiven), the Pack now sits at at 2-0 in Pool A with Carolina on the docket to close out the tournament’s pool play on Saturday night in prime time. More on that a little further down.
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Pool B Developments
OK, I’m a big boy and I can admit when I’m wrong. Having said that, I wasn’t wrong, but I’ll still give the Virginia Tech Hokies a big tip of the cap for their performance in Pool B. For the record, I did say they were a very good team, but PROBABLY not good enough to get past both FSU and UVa.
But get past them they did. First, they embarrassed rival UVa on Wednesday by a 10-1 final, then they outlasted FSU on Thursday night, breaking the ‘Noles hearts with a walkoff HR by Mark Zagunis that I think is still in flight somewhere over the RTP.
The Hokies then got past a pesky GT squad on Friday to punch their ticket early for Sunday’s championship game. They have a day off on Saturday now to rest up for either State or Carolina.
VT finishing pool play at 3-0 also renders the FSU/UVa game on Saturday completely meaningless to anyone not from Charlottesville or Tallahassee (and probably not even most of them), which has to be pissing all over the ACC’s cornflakes.
That being said, that game does have potential implications for the Pack. An FSU loss could help the Wolfpack considerably in its quest for a national seed. The Pack’s wins coupled with FSU’s dismal performance in Durham has moved us past them in the RPI and gives us at least a fighting chance at consideration at this point. Even with a loss to UVa, FSU isn’t likely to fall further, but beating UVa could give them a bump up.
But of course the biggest thing is the Pack needs to take care of business vs Carolina (and then VT too). Two more wins and we’ll be 20-8 vs the RPI top 50 with a top 8 RPI rating (we’re at #8 right now, FSU at #9).
That will be hard for the committee to overlook.
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Also meaningless is the Saturday mid-day tilt between Clemson and Miami since both are 0-2 in Pool A.
Speaking of Clemson, carrying a 7-2 lead into the ninth inning on Friday night vs Carolina, the toothless tiggers managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and make their weekend in Tallahassee actually almost look good by comparison.
The Heels would score five times in the ninth to tie it, then would eventually win it 12-7 in 14 innings.
Way to go Tiggs. We’re all proud of you.
Now, that result really didn’t matter to the Pack, as they would have had to win on Saturday night vs Carolina either way in order to advance to Sunday, but still.
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Pool Play Standings
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So then, Saturday night at 7pm, the Pack squares off against those effing guys. The rubber match that didn’t happen in Raleigh finally comes to pass. And this one’s not for all the marbles, but it is for the right to move on and face VT on Sunday for at least a few marbles. Winning is important not only to get a shot at a conference championship, but also to keep that aforementioned hope for a national seed alive.
Beating Carolina again would go a long way toward keeping that RPI number strong, and of course winning the conference championship would be a boost as well, not to mention a little hardware for the team and program. Not to mention it would make a LOT of Pack fans extremely happy.
And the Pack has Carlos Rodon going for them Saturday night as well. He’ll face Carolina lefty Hobbs Johnson.
The game is set for 7pm and will be televised on FoxSportsCarolina, FoxSportsSouth, and Comcast Mid-Atlantic, among other RSN affiliates. It will also be streamed on ESPN3 in areas where the FoxSports affiliate feels they must show other meaningless crap (like mine…screw you D-Backs).
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[Update] Cherry Picking
Cherry Picking, get it? If not, read on….
So, this is an interesting screen capture/photo that was brought to my attention by an SFN compatriot. That’s Freshman Carolina pitcher Taylore Cherry…(Yeah, I spelled that first name correctly. “Taylore” with an e. Christ almighty).
Word is that this is the UNC-CHeat version of a rally cap, so tonight, I am hereby giving everyone license to fondle themselves for luck. I know I will be (yeah, for luck…seriously).
Also, what do you think are the chances that he’s thinking about fellow frosh, and my favorite name guy this year…SKYE BOLT?????
Hehehehe….It’s all in good fun. Mostly.
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Go Pack!!! Beat that Tar Heel Ass!!!!
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