Fresh off its first loss of the season Sunday at Myrtle Beach against Texas Christian University, the baseball team will host UNC-Wilmington this afternoon at 3 p.m. In the weekend tournament, N.C. State won its first two games before losing to the Horned Frogs.
But despite the loss, coach Elliott Avent said it was a productive weekend for the team as a whole.
“This weekend was huge for us even though we came away with a loss [Sunday],” Avent said. “This weekend our team showed a lot of things. We’re trying to mix a bunch of players together in one season. And sometimes that’s not always easy to do. But these guys have gotten closer together in a short period of time. They grew up a lot this weekend.”
The Seahawks (5-6) are a familiar opponent for the Wolfpack (8-1), as the two have played each other every year since Avent took over the job, including two meetings last season in which each team won a game.
“I know everything about [UNC]-Wilmington. We’ve played them for 11 years,” Avent said. “They’re one of the toughest teams in college baseball year-in and year-out. And they’re extremely well-coached.”
For Avent and the team, this game also provides something most of the early non-conference games do not — a rivalry.
Though it’s not North Carolina, Duke or even Wake Forest, the Seahawks are from just down the road, and the players are familiar with one another, according to Avent.
“[This game] is always a big in-state rivalry,” the coach said. “There are always a lot of guys who know each other and have played against each other. It has a great in-state feel to it. It’s really fun for the players.”
So far this season Wilmington has played some quality opponents, including South Carolina, North Carolina and TCU — all of which were ranked in the top 15 in the country by Collegiate Baseball at the time. The Seahawks actually beat the TCU team that beat State.
Taking the mound for the Pack will be freshman left-hander Jimmy Gillheeney, who will be making the first start of his college career. Gillheeney has made three appearances so far this season out of the bullpen, though.
In nine innings of work, Gillheeney has allowed only four hits, two walks and has struck out eight. And he has yet to give up a run.
According to Avent, Gillheeney’s early success comes from a pitching maturity beyond his years.
“He’s just a freshman, and you never know how freshmen are going to react. But Jimmy hasn’t pitched like a freshman so far,” Avent said. “He’s a Tommy Glavine look-alike because of the way he pitches. And he has a certain level of maturity and the sense of a veteran.”
