#Pack9 Opens NCAA Regional Play Friday

RALEIGH – No. 16 NC State baseball (30-17) is set to make its 32nd NCAA Tournament appearance this weekend as it travels to Ruston, La., for the NCAA Ruston Regional, hosted by Louisiana Tech (40-18). The Wolfpack, who earned the No. 2 seed, and the top-seeded Bulldogs are joined by No. 3 seed Alabama (31-24) and fourth-seeded Rider (23-16).

All games will be played at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park Friday, June 4 through Monday, June 7. The games will be broadcast on ESPN3 and there will be a free audio stream on WKNC 88.1 and the TuneIn App.

NCAA RUSTON REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, June 4
Game 1 - #2 NC State vs. #3 Alabama @ 2 PM ET
Game 2 - #1 Louisiana Tech vs. #4 Rider @ 7 PM ET

Saturday, June 5
Game 3 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 @ 3 PM ET
Game 4 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 @ 7 PM ET

Sunday, June 6
Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 @ 3 PM ET
Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 @ 7 PM ET

Monday, June 7 (If Necessary)
Game 7 – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 – 4 PM ET

FRIDAY'S STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Reid Johnston (NCSU) vs. RHP Tyler Ras (ALA)

NC STATE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The 2021 season marks NC State's 32nd time playing in the NCAA Tournament, as it has earned a berth in 10 out of the last 11 years that the tournament has been held, including six straight years. Impressively, the Pack has participated in the tournament in 16 out of the last 18 years that it has been held.

The Pack has advanced to a Super Regional four times and the College World Series twice, with the last time coming in 2013.

LAST TIME OUT
NC State made a deep run in the ACC Championship in Charlotte, N.C. last week, reaching its first title game since 2015. It defeated Pittsburgh, 3-2, to advance out of pool play and then downed Georgia Tech, 8-1, in the semifinals to face Duke in the title game on Sunday but ultimately fell, 1-0.

NC STATE VS. THE OPPONENTS
Friday will be the sixth time NC State and Alabama have met on the diamond in program history, as the Wolfpack owns a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series. The Pack and Crimson Tide last met on March 5, 2016 in Cary, N.C., and NC State won, 2-1.

If NC State were to meet Rider in the tournament it would be the third all-time meeting, and first since 1991, as the Pack leads the all-time series, 2-0.

If NC State and Louisiana Tech were to face off in Ruston, it would be the first ever meeting between the squads.

WHAT'S NEXT
If NC State were to advance out of the NCAA Ruston Regional, it would face the winner of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional, hosted by Arkansas June 11-14.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Reid Johnston