NC State will wait for Selection Monday to hear pairings for their NCAA Regional
What looked like a pitchers’ duel for the first four innings of Thursday’s ACC Tournament game between NC State and Duke ended up being a blowout 8-1 win for the Blue Devils on the back of a 6-run 5th inning. With the loss, NC State is eliminated from the tournament and will await Selection Monday to find out the particulars of their NCAA Tournament Regional.
Sam Highfill started the game in tremendous fashion, setting down 12 of the first 14 batters he faced. Entering the 5th inning without allowing a hit, Highfill was pitching as well as we’ve seen him since Omaha in 2021. Unfortunately things unraveled in that 5th inning as Highfill surrendered six runs on a trio of home runs. The first was nothing more than a high fly ball from Chase Krewson that barely cleared the short left field porch of Truist Field. The other two – a grand slam from Zac Morris and a solo shot from A.J. Gracia – were no cheapies.
Duke added another two runs on yet another home run – this one from Devin Obee – in the 6th inning. Jacob Dudan (2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K), Cooper Consiglio (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K), and Derrick Smith (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) did their best to keep the game within reach, but with Duke’s pitchers never allowing State’s hitters to threaten on the evening, it was all over. The Pack did manage to push across a run in the 9th – a Jacob Cozart double to score Alec Makarewicz – to avoid being shutout, but that was it.
NC State managed only six baserunners in the game via five hits and one walk. Makarewicz (2-for-4, R) was the only batter to reach base more than once.
The good news for the Wolfpack is that a Regional hosting bid had already been locked up. D1 Baseball’s latest projections following yesterday’s actions have NC State as the #11 overall seed in the tournament, hosting a Raleigh Regional with Vanderbilt (2), UConn (3), and VCU (4). Baseball America’s projections from this morning have NC State as the #9 overall seed, hosting South Carolina (2), Charleston (3), and High Point (4).
We’ll find out on Monday which teams will be heading to Raleigh, but at least the Wolfpack will be at home to open the NCAA Tournament.