Like a fully functional slinky, so far N.C. State’s baseball season has been a strange mixture of exhilarating ups and heartbreaking downs.
With the Wolfpack coming off of a series against Georgia Tech two weeks ago in which they took two of three from the top-ranked team in the nation, State was swept by Clemson in Death Valley this past weekend, receiving its fourth straight conference loss. “You shouldn’t define who you are by wins and losses,” coach Elliot Avent said. “Unfortunately in everyday life we do.”
With their momentum all but gone, the Pack took the field on Wednesday night against ECU in hopes of regaining some of the swagger that had so quickly and quietly faded. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, senior Matt Camp drove in junior Caleb Mangum to secure the victory and supply State with a much-needed confidence boost.
“We really needed that,” junior shortstop Jonathan Diaz said. “Clemson was pretty rough so that definitely makes us feel more comfortable going into the Virginia series.”
Having finally found themselves in the win column after more than a week and a half, State will play host to the No.14 Virginia Cavaliers (24-5, 6-3), who enter Raleigh this weekend holding a secure grip on the second place spot in the ACC’s Coastal division.
“They’re very sound fundamentally and have great pitching,” Avent said.
With the Pack (22-8, 5-4) tied for second place behind Florida State, sophomore Ryan Pond said the series is very important, considering the future road trips to North Carolina and Maryland.
“It’s huge,” Pond said. “The next two series are at home, and you have to win when you’re at home.”
On Friday night, State will send sophomore Andrew Brackman to the mound for his fourth start of the season. Freshman Eric Surkamp and redshirt sophomore Eryk McConnell will start the next two games.
“Every ACC game is crucial for us,” Diaz said.
For Pond, the games will take on even more meaning. The sophomore hails from Chesapeake, Va. and will have a chance to play against many of the players that he grew up with.
“I’m from Virginia, and I’ve probably played against 10 or 15 guys on that team, so it’s always fun to play against the guys that you played growing up,” Pond said.
The Pack look to take their home record to an impressive 16-4 and gain their second conference sweep of the season.
“We just need to execute the little things,” Pond said.
For a State team that has high post-season hopes, the most important stretch of the season to prove their tournament credibility may start tonight.
“We pretty much have to make hay while the sun shines,” Avent said. “We gonna have to take advantage of being at home for the next two weeks.”