With the 2017 season rapidly approaching, the NC State baseball team will have its hands full with a nonconference schedule that features several intriguing matchups and a gauntlet of rigorous conference matchups in another year of excellent ACC competition.
Last season, 10 out of 14 ACC teams earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament, a record number for the conference. This season figures to be just as competitive as the Wolfpack seeks to host another regional as well as make its third tournament appearance in a row.
Here are some interesting matchups for the Wolfpack this season:
Austin Peay, Feb. 24-26
The Wolfpack will host Austin Peay at Doak Field for its home opener. Last season, the Governors went 30-23 with a 17-9 record in the Ohio Valley Conference, good for second place in the conference standings. While they did not make a tournament appearance, the Governors did win a series over Southeast Missouri State, who won the conference and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. As with any early season matchup, the Wolfpack will most likely be working out the kinks, but the series is very winnable for an experienced State team.
Maryland, March 4
The Pack will take on Maryland at the USA Baseball complex in Cary for a single-game matchup. The Terps hail from a weak Big Ten conference which only sent three teams to the tournament last year, with Maryland not being one of them. However, the Terrapins are ranked No. 25 in the D1 College Baseball poll and figure to be stiff competition for the Wolfpack.
At Wake Forest, March 10-12
The Wolfpack will travel to Winston-Salem to open up conference play. Last season, the Demon Deacons went 35-27 (13-17 ACC), giving the team a berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Deacs return junior and preseason All-American outfielder Stuart Fairchild, and keeping him in check will be a challenge. Last season, the Wolfpack swept Wake at Doak Field.
Miami, March 17-19
NC State will start conference play at home with a tough test against Miami. After winning the Coastal Division of the ACC last year with an impressive 50-14 (21-7 ACC) record, the Hurricanes again may be the team to beat in the ACC. State did not face Miami in the regular season, but the two teams did square off in the ACC Tournament when the Wolfpack lost a heartbreaker after a go-ahead ninth inning home run by the Hurricanes. This series will be must-watch baseball, as two of the ACC’s best will be in action in Raleigh.
Louisville, March 24-26
The Wolfpack’s first conference series after Miami will be Louisville, a team that went 50-14 and 22-8 in ACC play, finishing in first place in the Atlantic division. The Cardinals had an unexpectedly early exit from the NCAA Tournament last year, but are always one of the top programs in the country, and this year should be no different. To give some perspective on just how tough this team is to beat, NC State was consistently ranked in the top 10 last year, but was swept by the Cards in Louisville. The Wolfpack will look for revenge in this series.
Florida State, April 7-9
NC State’s conference schedule did them no favors, as the team will face Florida State after a road trip to Notre Dame. The Seminoles are consistently among the top of the ACC and ranked nationally. The Pack traveled to Tallahassee last year, only to lose one game and have the other two rained out. This series, barring another rainout, will be a test for this Wolfpack team.
At UNC-Chapel Hill, April 14-16
The Pack will travel down the road to face the rival Tar Heels, who narrowly missed out on both the ACC and NCAA Tournament last year. UNC will likely trot out its righty flamethrower Jacob Bukauskas, who can throw mid to upper 90s and is widely considered a top prospect for the 2017 MLB Draft in June. The Wolfpack took two of three from UNC in its series last season.
Clemson, May 18-20
The Pack will finish out its conference slate against the reigning ACC Tournament champion Tigers, who also took two of three from State in the series last year. Clemson returns sophomore first baseman and outfielder Seth Beer, who stormed onto the scene last year and won the Dick Howser Trophy for the nation’s top collegiate baseball player.
Joe Dunand, a sophomore infielder, hits the ball for a double. Dunand was at bat four times during the game with one hit and one RBI for the game. The NC State men's baseball team beat UNC-Greensboro 8-4 at Doak Field on March 1.
