Ranjith Kumar
No. 25 N.C. State (26-11) will look to build on a series win against Miami over the weekend as the Wolfpack takes on Davidson (16-21) today at 6 p.m. The two teams have not met since State defeated the Wildcats 8-2 in 2002.
The Pack holds a 70-20 advantage in the all-time series against Davidson, and the Wildcats have lost 10 of their last 11 games. Still, coach Elliott Avent said he expects the contest to be a good one between two quality teams.
“I expect a well-played game by both teams,” Avent said. “We’re playing very well right now defensively and execution-wise. Davidson has always been well-coached; so I’m sure we’ll get a good effort from them, and it should be a good ballgame.”
The Pack is coming off a series against Miami in which it scored 25 runs in three games. Avent said the team is beginning to play better and come together.
“We got a great effort from our bullpen on Friday night down in Miami,” Avent said. “We got a great effort from [sophomore pitcher] Andrew Taylor against Miami on Sunday in very bad conditions. I think we are starting to become much more of a team, which makes us tough to beat every game out.”
Freshman Nate Karns is expected to start for the Wolfpack. He has a 3.12 ERA on the season. Avent said the team has had solid defense and pitching all season and that the offense is beginning to pick it up as well.
“Defensively, we’ve been outstanding all year for the most part,” Avent said. “Pitching has been really good as well. The bats are starting to come together offensively, and we are getting better execution.”
Avent said these improvements in the team’s play give the players a new attitude.
“We’re understanding roles, understanding each other, and we’re starting to pull for one another a lot,” Avent said. “We’re going out with a better mindset for every game.”
Even with the team’s recent gains, Avent said there is always work to be done and cited a fundamental area that the Pack could get better in.
“I think we could have better base-running,” Avent said. “Everything we do could obviously get better, but if we had one area where I’d like for us to pick it up a bit, it would be base-running.”
The Wolfpack has four conference series remaining this year. Three of those series are against teams currently ranked in the top 15 in the country. Avent said he expects the team to continue to improve and to maintain its focus as it heads into the end of the ACC season.
“I’m looking for the same consistency we’ve had the last two weeks,” Avent said. “I’m looking for us to continue to grow as a team and to come together. I’m looking for us to understand our expectations and what’s possible out there and to continue to get better as a team.”