With six home ACC games under its belt, N.C. State hoped for better than a .500 ACC record, according to some of the players.

Now, as the Wolfpack (16-7, 3-3 ACC) readies itself for a series against Wake Forest — the first ACC road series of the season — coach Elliot Avent said his team’s focus is getting better.

“This is an extremely competitive league,” Avent said. “It’s extremely tough. We’ve had two home series, and we’re 3-3 [in the ACC]. We’re just really focusing on our team right now — how we play, how we take batting practice, how we take infield — we’re looking at all these things right now to see how we can grow and get better, knowing it’s going to take everything we’ve got.”

After losing two of three at home to Maryland in the first ACC series of the season, State wanted a sweep of Virginia Tech to rack up momentum for the rest of the young ACC season, junior outfielder and designated hitter Ryan Pond said.

The Hokies led 4-1 heading in the ninth inning. State scored three runs in the inning to force extra innings. Two errors by third baseman Drew Martin allowed two runs to score, and the Pack lost, 6-4.

“Coming off a win in a series [against Virginia Tech] we felt like we should have swept — that last game left a bitter taste in our mouths,” Pond said. “We’re 3-3 in the ACC, so there’s still a long way to go. This is going to be a pivotal series for us to prove who we are in the league.”

He said the team has practiced well this week as a result of the disappointment in the Virginia Tech series finale.

“The guys have been really intense,” Pond said. “We were all pissed off we lost [the last Virginia Tech] game. We knew we won the series, but nobody was happy. The way the last game ended wasn’t good, and hopefully the guys will come out with the same intensity we had in those extra innings against Virginia Tech.”

Junior infielder Joe Florio said rebounding from the tough, down-to-the-wire loss comes from the team’s mental approach and the way the players respond to adversity.

“Our team has to pick each other up,” he said. “The way we played in the last two or three innings of that game is the way we’ve got to play every game. I don’t think our players carry that ‘Oh man, we lost’ attitude over to the next day. We dwell a little bit, but we came out on the field today for practice, and we got to work on the things we needed to do.”

Florio said the team realizes how important the three-game series against Wake Forest is in determining the pecking order in the ACC.

“Coming off the Maryland series and the two losses, we were really looking to sweep Virginia Tech,” Florio said. “It was nice to win the series, but those games were really important. Coming into Wake Forest, we realized we’re still in a little bit of a hole. If we can win the series, or even walk away with a sweep, that’d be even better.”

The Pack is going to take a different approach with its pitching staff this weekend, Avent said, with sophomore Eric Surkamp starting Friday’s game, junior Andrew Brackman starting the second game and freshman Jimmy Gillheeney starting the series finale.

“The last few days have been focused on how we’re going to prepare and getting this team going in the right direction,” Avent said.

Avent said the team is still struggling with injuries. Pond is hampered by a tweaked hamstring, Martin is struggling with his thrice-dislocated shoulder and freshman outfielder Jeremy Synan is bothered by a hip-flexor injury.

“Everybody’s banged up a little bit, but I don’t think Ramon [Corona] has come out of a game yet,” Avent said. “He’s played almost every inning of every ballgame. He’s a strong, physical guy, so if anyone can handle it, he can.

“Ryan Pond tweaked his hamstring. We’ve cut his practices back a little bit, but I think he’s OK. [Senior catcher] Caleb Mangum caught about 30 innings for us last weekend, but he’s a tough, hard-nosed kid. If you take the innings away from him, he would have been upset.”

Avent said one big injury is affecting the team. Senior infielder Vince Gutierrez is out “indefinitely” with a dislocated shoulder. During the last inning of the series with Valparaiso last week, Gutierrez dived for a ball, landing awkwardly. His right shoulder popped out of the socket.

“We may not get him back until May,” Avent said. “He’s out for about six weeks.”

Despite the injuries, Florio said the team is getting ready for the series for Wake Forest as best it can.

He said the Demon Deacons is an aggressive team, pitching-wise, and the Deacon pitchers aren’t afraid to attack the batters with fastballs at any point in the game, in any situation or in any count.

Florio said if the team can swing the bats the way the players know they can, they’ll be able to put some runs on the board “to support one of the best pitching staffs in the country.”

“If we can be aggressive early in the count and work off their fastballs, I think we’ll do well,” he said.