ACC Baseball Tournament – Saturday Reset [Update]

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[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.

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)

Box Score

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)

Box Score

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.

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.

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.

Pool Play Standings


(thru game 9)
#1 North Carolina 2-0
#4 NC State 2-0
#5 Clemson 0-2
#8 Miami 0-2
#6 Virginia Tech** 3-0
#3 Virginia 1-1
#7 Georgia Tech 1-2
#2 Florida State 0-2


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).

[Update] Cherry Picking

uncbullpenCherryPicking.

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.

Go Pack!!! Beat that Tar Heel Ass!!!!

About Wufpacker

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

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431 Responses to ACC Baseball Tournament – Saturday Reset [Update]

  1. packalum44 05/25/2013 at 10:02 PM #

    Choke city. Same as it ever was.

  2. Dogbreath 05/25/2013 at 10:03 PM #

    Goddamned motherfucking NCStateShit.

  3. vtpackfan 05/25/2013 at 10:03 PM #

    Awkward to day the least.

  4. BJD95 05/25/2013 at 10:03 PM #

    This is why we can’t have nice things.

  5. Wufpacker 05/25/2013 at 10:04 PM #

    12th K for Rodon…he’s pissed off now. Question is can we score again?

  6. theghost 05/25/2013 at 10:04 PM #

    Rodon was looking at second – clearly bit on Senay’s pump fake, didn’t think Senay still had it.

  7. Wufpacker 05/25/2013 at 10:06 PM #

    5 to 3 ends it….but it’s tied up now going to bottom 8th.

  8. BJD95 05/25/2013 at 10:06 PM #

    Gotta know the situation – take the safe out. They have ONE hit. ONE. Don’t worry about a possible hit scoring two. Just get the second out. Jeebus.

  9. wufpup76 05/25/2013 at 10:07 PM #

    Way to hang and get out of it

  10. BJD95 05/25/2013 at 10:10 PM #

    Though now I have to stay up two more hours until we lose 2-1 in the 16th.

  11. Wufpacker 05/25/2013 at 10:12 PM #

    Bite your tongue BJD

  12. Wufpacker 05/25/2013 at 10:15 PM #

    Pack goes quietly in the 8th…going to 9th 1-1

  13. BJD95 05/25/2013 at 10:15 PM #

    I would not have kept Rodon in any longer. Location is really off.

  14. elvislives 05/25/2013 at 10:15 PM #

    Looks like I picked the wrong day to stop smoking opium.

  15. Wufpacker 05/25/2013 at 10:18 PM #

    LOL elvis…talk to BJD…sounds like he can hook ya up.

  16. Wufpacker 05/25/2013 at 10:19 PM #

    Heels go 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th.

    Good time for a walk off.

    Hell, I’ll even take a walk off bases loaded walk at this point.

    Just win goddammit.

  17. BJD95 05/25/2013 at 10:19 PM #

    The shakes are really getting to ya now, eh?

    As Woodhouse would say – “it’s going to be an itchy, itchy weekend.”

  18. tjfoose1 05/25/2013 at 10:19 PM #

    Biff, Buffy, and their entourage left last inning. Of course.

  19. elvislives 05/25/2013 at 10:20 PM #

    I prefer the California Catsup flavor.

  20. Wufpacker 05/25/2013 at 10:21 PM #

    A Woodhouse reference. That’s gotta be a good omen.

  21. Wufpacker 05/25/2013 at 10:25 PM #

    Urrrgggghhhh

    SO…about that opium.

  22. elvislives 05/25/2013 at 10:26 PM #

    And as the innings change from 9 to 10, I trade out the empty bourbon bottle for a full glass of rye. Let’s hope the absinthe stays in the cabinet tonight.

  23. redwolf87 05/25/2013 at 10:29 PM #

    What I’d have given for two more feet of lift on that double Clyde hit off the Monster.

  24. BJD95 05/25/2013 at 10:29 PM #

    Scenes go missing with that absinthe stuff. Sometimes days worth.

  25. wufpup76 05/25/2013 at 10:30 PM #

    10 innings and he still looks amazing.

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