The No. 6 N.C. State Wolfpack (33-10, 14-7 ACC), which led the ACC Atlantic Division at 15 straight wins, the nation’s longest winning streak, will put that streak on the line this weekend when No. 1 UNC-Chapel Hill visits Raleigh for a three-game series. The series begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Doak Field at Dail Park.
Since dropping the middle game of a series against Maryland on March 30, the Wolfpack has not lost a game. State is coming off of a walk-off 4-3 win over Davidson on Tuesday. In its last ACC series, the Pack swept the then No. 15 Georgia Tech on the road in Atlanta.
The Tar Heels (39-3, 17-2 ACC) were riding a similarly impressive win streak until Tuesday. Carolina had racked up 14 straight victories until they were upset 9-8 by UNC-Wilmington. Despite that result, UNC still holds the top ranking in college baseball, as well as the lead in the ACC’s Coastal Division.
Head coach Elliott Avent will use the same rotation that earned him the sweep of Georgia Tech. Senior right-hander Ryan Wilkins will start on the mound for the Wolfpack on Friday, with sophomore lefty Carlos Rodon, who pitched a complete game last Saturday, getting the start in game two. Freshman left-hander Brad Stone gets the call for Sunday.
Rodon’s 95 strikeouts lead the ACC among pitchers.
“[UNC] probably has one of the best, if not the best lineups in college baseball,” Wilkins said. “You just go out there and make good pitches, and that’s all you can do.”
The significance of the series is not lost on the Wolfpack faithful. On Monday, it was announced that all three games had sold out.
From a Tar Heel’s perspective, the last series in Raleigh was not a pleasant one. Unranked N.C. State, with a record barely over .500 at the time, swept a three-game series with UNC, including a 10-2 demolition in the series finale in 2011. Last season in Chapel Hill, the Heels took two out of three tightly contested games, and also beat the Pack in extra innings in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro.
State’s recent success has coincided with the return of sophomore shortstop Trea Turner from an ankle injury. Turner, who set the N.C. State career stolen base record during the Georgia Tech series, is batting .438 this season, which leads the team as well as the ACC. He also leads the team in home runs with six, despite having missed 10 games due to his injury.
“You go through some things with injuries,” Avent said. “Then you find a way to win some games. Through winning, your team gets a little toughness. From toughness, you get confidence, and you find different ways to win.”
Another State player to watch this weekend is senior first baseman Tarran Senay, who will get his last crack at the Heels. Senay leads the team in RBIs with 45, and drove in nine of those in the series at Georgia Tech on his way to being named ACC Player of the Week. Senay is also third on the team in fielding percentage at .991, behind sophomore catcher Brett Austin and senior outfielder Bryan Adametz.
“It’s gonna be a ride,” Senay said of his last UNC series. “It was fun, and hopefully this weekend will be enjoyable, just like the last three weekends and the past four years.”
The Tar Heels are led offensively by third baseman Colin Moran, whose 10 home runs are good for second most in the ACC. Moran leads the conference in RBIs at 65, as well as in total hits with 57. Starting pitcher Benton Moss is third in the conference with 57 strikeouts.
“It’s going to be a fun weekend.” Avent said.
