North Carolina State University Athletics
Friday, February 18
Raleigh, N.C.
3 PM
NC State
vs
Evansville
#Pack9 Set To Open 2022 Season Friday Against Evansville
2/17/2022 1:34:00 PM | Baseball
RALEIGH – No. 7 NC State baseball is set to open its 2022 season this weekend when it welcomes Evansville to Doak Field at Dail Park. The teams will play a three-game series Friday through Sunday with first pitch slated for 3 p.m., 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., in respective order.
All three games will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra and there will be a free audio stream on WKNC 88.1 and the Varsity Network App. For audio, Sunday's game will only be available through the Varsity Network App.
Friday will be the first-ever meeting between the Wolfpack and Purple Aces.
STARTING PITCHERS
Friday – RHP Sam Highfill (NCSU) vs. RHP Shane Gray (UE)
Saturday – RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. RHP Nick Smith (UE)
Sunday – LHP David Harrison (NCSU) vs. RHP Shane Harris (UE)
2021 SEASON RECAP
NC State reached the College World Series for the third time in program history and finished the season with a 37-19 record while tying its highest ranking in history with a No. 3 finish in the final USA Today and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) polls of the 2021 season.
It finished 19-14 in ACC play to finish third in the league and reached the title game of the ACC Championship. The squad went on to go 3-0 in the NCAA Ruston Regional and then stun top-seeded Arkansas in the NCAA Super Regional to return to Omaha. In Omaha, the Pack tabbed 10-6 and 1-0 wins over Stanford and Vanderbilt, respectively, and was one win away from advancing to the championship series before it was eliminated from the tournament due to COVID-19 protocols.
NEW LOOK LINEUP
The 2022 lineup will have a much different look to it, as only two position players from last year's core contributors return to this year's lineup - outfielder Devonte Brown and second baseman J.T. Jarret. In the offseason, the NC State coaching staff reloaded its offensive talent with five transfers and seven freshmen.
From last year's batting order, Jonny Butler, Tyler McDonough, Vojtech Mensik, Austin Murr, Terrell Tatum, Jose Torres and Luca Tresh were all either selected in the MLB Draft or signed a free agent contract.
SOLID FOUNDATION TO PITCHING STAFF
Pitchers Sam Highfill, Chris Villaman and Matt Willadsen all return to this year's roster from the core contributing group in 2021, giving NC State a solid foundation to its pitching staff.
The 2021 campaign was the first full season for all three players in an NC State uniform, and they all managed to become vital pieces to the Pack's success as the trio combined for 237 innings and 227 strikeouts from last season.
PACK PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN ATLANTIC DIVISION OF ACC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Playing in one of the nation's toughest conferences, NC State was picked to finish second in the Atlantic Division of the 2022 ACC Baseball Preseason poll, announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon.
Based on a vote by the league's head coaches, the Wolfpack collected 76 points and one first-place vote to finish behind overall champion Florida State (88 points, eight first-place votes) in the division.
PRESEASON PRAISE FOR HIGHFILL
Highfill was named a Preseason Second Team All-American by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Collegiate Baseball, DI Baseball and Perfect Game ahead of the 2022 campaign. Additionally, he was featured on USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List earlier this week which is awarded annually to the top amateur player in the country.
PRESEASON NATIONAL RANKINGS
NC State was featured among the top 20 in five of the six major preseason polls, marking the 20th consecutive season it has started or finished nationally ranked.
No. 7 – Perfect Game
No. 9 – USA Today
No. 10 – DI Baseball
No. 11 – NCBWA
No. 16 – Baseball America
ON DECK
February 22 · vs. High Point · 3 PM
February 23 · vs. Longwood · 3 PM
All three games will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra and there will be a free audio stream on WKNC 88.1 and the Varsity Network App. For audio, Sunday's game will only be available through the Varsity Network App.
Friday will be the first-ever meeting between the Wolfpack and Purple Aces.
STARTING PITCHERS
Friday – RHP Sam Highfill (NCSU) vs. RHP Shane Gray (UE)
Saturday – RHP Matt Willadsen (NCSU) vs. RHP Nick Smith (UE)
Sunday – LHP David Harrison (NCSU) vs. RHP Shane Harris (UE)
2021 SEASON RECAP
NC State reached the College World Series for the third time in program history and finished the season with a 37-19 record while tying its highest ranking in history with a No. 3 finish in the final USA Today and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) polls of the 2021 season.
It finished 19-14 in ACC play to finish third in the league and reached the title game of the ACC Championship. The squad went on to go 3-0 in the NCAA Ruston Regional and then stun top-seeded Arkansas in the NCAA Super Regional to return to Omaha. In Omaha, the Pack tabbed 10-6 and 1-0 wins over Stanford and Vanderbilt, respectively, and was one win away from advancing to the championship series before it was eliminated from the tournament due to COVID-19 protocols.
NEW LOOK LINEUP
The 2022 lineup will have a much different look to it, as only two position players from last year's core contributors return to this year's lineup - outfielder Devonte Brown and second baseman J.T. Jarret. In the offseason, the NC State coaching staff reloaded its offensive talent with five transfers and seven freshmen.
From last year's batting order, Jonny Butler, Tyler McDonough, Vojtech Mensik, Austin Murr, Terrell Tatum, Jose Torres and Luca Tresh were all either selected in the MLB Draft or signed a free agent contract.
SOLID FOUNDATION TO PITCHING STAFF
Pitchers Sam Highfill, Chris Villaman and Matt Willadsen all return to this year's roster from the core contributing group in 2021, giving NC State a solid foundation to its pitching staff.
The 2021 campaign was the first full season for all three players in an NC State uniform, and they all managed to become vital pieces to the Pack's success as the trio combined for 237 innings and 227 strikeouts from last season.
PACK PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN ATLANTIC DIVISION OF ACC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Playing in one of the nation's toughest conferences, NC State was picked to finish second in the Atlantic Division of the 2022 ACC Baseball Preseason poll, announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon.
Based on a vote by the league's head coaches, the Wolfpack collected 76 points and one first-place vote to finish behind overall champion Florida State (88 points, eight first-place votes) in the division.
PRESEASON PRAISE FOR HIGHFILL
Highfill was named a Preseason Second Team All-American by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Collegiate Baseball, DI Baseball and Perfect Game ahead of the 2022 campaign. Additionally, he was featured on USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List earlier this week which is awarded annually to the top amateur player in the country.
PRESEASON NATIONAL RANKINGS
NC State was featured among the top 20 in five of the six major preseason polls, marking the 20th consecutive season it has started or finished nationally ranked.
No. 7 – Perfect Game
No. 9 – USA Today
No. 10 – DI Baseball
No. 11 – NCBWA
No. 16 – Baseball America
ON DECK
February 22 · vs. High Point · 3 PM
February 23 · vs. Longwood · 3 PM
Players Mentioned
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