Sitting at 7-1 overall, the No. 6 N.C. State baseball team has begun to find its stride early in the 2014 campaign. The Wolfpack won seven consecutive games and silenced the doubts created by losing on opening day.
“We are ecstatic in the locker room right now,” senior pitcher Andrew Woeck said. “We are doing what we need to do. We’re on a roll.”
During the seven-game winning streak, the Wolfpack received excellent pitching performances from its rotation and clutch hitting from players throughout its lineup. Junior shortstop Trea Turner has been terrific for the Pack, leading the team with a .419 batting average and seven stolen bases.
The win streak wouldn’t be possible without the bullpen, which has quieted preseason concerns. Senior pitcher Woeck and sophomore pitcher Jon Olczak have combined for 12 2/3 scoreless innings and senior left-hander D.J. Thomas has eight strikeouts in only 3 2/3 innings.
The Wolfpack will look to build on its hot streak this weekend as its welcomes three tough foes to Raleigh for the USA Baseball-Irish Classic, which pits six elite baseball teams in competition at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary. Defending College World Series champion UCLA Bruins headlines the field, which also features the Michigan Wolverines, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Appalachian State Mountaineers and Youngstown State Penguins.
“Youngstown State, Michigan and UCLA, phew, that’s a mouthful,” Wolfpack head coach Elliott Avent said. “That’s going to be tough. We are going to have to play even better than we have.”
On Friday, the Wolfpack will open up Irish Classic competition at Doak Field against Big Ten adversary Michigan. The Wolverines (1-5-1 overall) enter the Classic after a rocky start in the Texas State Tournament, but bright spots have emerged in the forms of junior utility man Kyle Jusick, who enters the tournament hitting .417 with 4 RBIs, and junior outfielder Jackson Glines, who is hitting .344 with four RBIs. Wolfpack fans will most likely see State’s junior pitcher Carlos Rodon (1-1 overall, 2.57 ERA) pitted against Michigan’s junior lefty Trent Szkutnik (0-1 overall, 2.45 ERA).
On Saturday night, the Wolfpack will make the trip to the USA Baseball Complex for a rematch with No. 19 UCLA. Last June, the Bruins defeated the Wolfpack, 2-1, in Omaha on their way to a College World Series title. UCLA (4-4 overall) has lost three straight games coming into the tournament, but has benefited from the emergence of freshman infielder Luke Persico, who batted .333 with four triples and three RBIs. Wolfpack junior pitcher Logan Jernigan (1-0 overall, 1.80 ERA) is expected to start against the Bruins’ junior lefthander Grant Watson (1-1 overall, 4.09 ERA) in a tough battle between championship contenders.
The Wolfpack will finish off their Irish Classic slate Sunday when the Youngstown State Penguins travel to Doak Field. The Penguins (0-5 overall) have had an extremely tough start to the season, after having their opening tournament in Charlotte canceled due to snow. The Penguins rely on senior catcher Josh White (.250 BA, three doubles) and senior outfielder Mike Accardi (.250 BA, 2 RBIs) to provide offense for their talented pitching rotation.
The Penguins have a young roster, filled with newcomers who have shown their youth early in 2014, with their offense sputtering and the pitching staff struggling mightily. Wolfpack sophomore left-hander Brad Stone (1-0 overall, 3.18 ERA) is expected to get the start against junior right-hander Brandon Shoemake (0-1 overall, 6.23 ERA).
With ACC play only one week away, the Irish Classic will provide the Wolfpack with a benchmark series to conclude the early series conference slate. Avent said he is happy with the team and sees them having success in the future.
“I’m very proud of them,” Avent said. “I’m very proud of the effort and the way they’ve stuck together. A lot of people have played and they pulled for one another. We are going to continue to grow and get better. This team wants to win.”
