Saturday, June 8
Athens, Ga.
Noon
NC State
at
Georgia [7]
Photo by: Gregg Forwerck
Tenth-Seeded #Pack9 Opens Athens Super Regional Saturday at Seventh-Seeded Georgia
6/7/2024 11:49:00 AM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. – No. 10 national seed NC State will travel to Athens, Georgia, this weekend for a Super Regional matchup at No. 7 national seed Georgia. This weekend's series at Foley Field will run Saturday-Monday. Saturday and Sunday's games will begin at noon, while a time for Monday's "if necessary" contest will be set at a later time as needed.
Saturday and Sunday's games for this weekend's Super Regional matchup in Athens will be televised on ESPNU. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App for each Wolfpack matchup in the NCAA Athens Super Regional and will be available on WKNC 88.1 and 99.9 The Fan with Andrew Sanders on the call.
2024 NCAA Baseball Athens Super Regional Schedule
Foley Field – Athens, Ga.
Saturday, June 8
Game 1 – No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 NC State | Noon | ESPNU
Sunday, June 9
Game 2 – No. 10 NC State vs. No. 7 Georgia | Noon | ESPNU
Monday, June 10 (If Necessary)
Game 3 – No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 NC State | Time TBD | TV TBD
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Saturday – RHP Sam Highfill (NCSU) vs. RHP Kolten Smith (Georgia)
FEELIN' SUPER
With a perfect 3-0 weekend in the NCAA Raleigh Regional, NC State advances to its sixth NCAA Super Regional in program history this weekend at No. 7 national seed Georgia. A brief note on NC State's prior five Super Regional appearances are listed below:
• 2003 (at Miami): NC State dropped the opening two games of its first Super Regional appearance at Miami's Mark Light Field. The Wolfpack dropped a one-run game in the Super Regional opener before the Hurricanes clinched the series with an 11-5 victory.
• 2008 (at Georgia): NC State and Georgia split the opening two games of the Athens Super Regional before the Bulldogs punched their ticket to Omaha with a win in game three.
• 2012 (at Florida): NC State lost its opening game against the Gators 7-1 before dropping a heartbreaker in game two, falling 9-8 to the Gators in 10 innings.
• 2013 (vs. Rice): NC State hosted its first Raleigh Super Regional to punch its first ticket to Omaha since 1968, winning back-to-back one-run games over the Owls to advance to the College World Series. The Wolfpack secured its spot in Omaha in dramatic fashion, posting a 5-4 victory in 17 innings over the Owls to win the Super Regional.
• 2021 (at Arkansas): The Wolfpack stunned top-seeded Arkansas with back-to-back one-run victories to clinch its third trip to Omaha in program history. The Razorbacks opened the weekend with a 21-2 win in the series opener before the Wolfpack evened the series with a 6-5 victory in game two. The Pack then completed the comeback with a 3-2 win in the winner-take-all matchup in game three. Jose Torres' solo homer in the ninth broke a 2-2 tie to lead NC State back to the College World Series.
THE MATCHUP: SERIES AGAINST GEORGIA
NC State holds a 2-3 record against Georgia in its series against the Bulldogs. More notes from the Pack's series history against Georgia are listed below:
• Three of NC State's five prior matchups against the Bulldogs came in the 2008 Athens Super Regional at Foley Field. NC State opens this weekend's Super Regional series on Saturday, June 8, which is exactly 16 years ago to the day that the Bulldogs won the decisive game of the 2008 Super Regional to advance to the College World Series. The Wolfpack dropped game one of the 2008 Athens Super Regional 11-4 before evening up the series with a 10-6 win in game two. Georgia clinched the series with a 17-8 victory in the winner-take-all matchup.
NCAA ALL-RALEIGH REGIONAL TEAM
NC State had five student-athletes named to the 2024 NCAA Baseball All-Raleigh Regional Team. First baseman Garrett Pennington, shortstop Brandon Butterworth, third baseman Alec Makarewicz, centerfielder Eli Serrano III and reliever Jacob Dudan were all named to the all-tournament team. Makarewicz, the tournament's most outstanding player, led the Pack with a .429 batting average, five RBI, six hits and four doubles this past weekend.
MOVING ON
NC State, the No. 10 national seed in this year's NCAA Tournament, hosted an NCAA Regional for the seventh time in program history this past weekend, all of which have come during the Elliott Avent era. All seven of NC State's times hosting a Regional have come since 2003. NC State is now 21-5 in home Regional matchups (Wilson and Raleigh). A brief note on each of those Regional host weekends is listed below:
• 2003 (Wilson, N.C.): NC State polished off a 3-0 record to advance to the Super Regionals against Miami.
• 2008: NC State posted a 3-0 record, highlighted by back-to-back wins over South Carolina, to advance to the Super Regionals against Georgia.
• 2012: NC State clawed back from a game two defeat to advance to the Super Regionals against Florida. The Wolfpack went 4-1 at The Doak and defeated Vanderbilt twice in the Regional finals to advance to the next round.
• 2013: The Wolfpack allowed just three runs in a perfect 3-0 weekend in Raleigh to then host its first Super Regional at The Doak. NC State then notched back-to-back one-run victories over Rice to advance to the College World Series for the first time since 1968.
• 2016: NC State failed to advance out of its own Regional for the first time in program history, falling to eventual national champion Coastal Carolina in a winner-take-all matchup.
• 2018: NC State dropped its opening-round matchup to Army before Auburn punched a ticket to the Super Regionals in the Regional final.
• 2024: In its first time hosting a Regional since 2018, NC State completed a three-game sweep of its Regional opponents to advance to its sixth Super Regional in program history. The Wolfpack defeated fourth-seeded Bryant, second-seeded South Carolina and third-seeded James Madison to hoist the Regional crown.
NC STATE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
With a perfect 3-0 record in the NCAA Raleigh Regional, NC State holds a 66-68 all-time record in 34 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Wolfpack has now advanced to the Super Regionals six times and the College World Series three times.
NC State has now notched Super Regional appearances in two of the past four seasons. In 2021, the Wolfpack advanced to the College World Series, posting a 7-2 record in its run to Omaha. NC State swept the NCAA Ruston Regional before storming back from a game one defeat in the Super Regionals against Arkansas to punch its ticket to Omaha.
EVERYTHING SCHOOL
NC State's athletics department has been rolling this spring. A few notes documenting NC State's success in 2024:
• NC State is the only school in the nation to have its men's and women's basketball teams make the Sweet 16, its baseball team make Super Regionals and its football team go to a bowl game.
• NC State is one of just eight schools to make the postseason in baseball, football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The Wolfpack is joined by Arizona, Duke, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Alabama.
• NC State is one of just two schools to host both an NCAA Baseball Regional and the NCAA Women's Basketball First and Second Rounds. Oregon State joins the Wolfpack in the elite group.
BUSTER POSEY AWARD FINALIST
NC State junior catcher Jacob Cozart was named a Buster Posey Award finalist on Thursday morning. Cozart is one of just three catchers nationally named a finalist for the award. Cozart, Sam Houston State's Walker Janek and Cal Poly's Ryan Stafford will be invited to Wichita, Kansas, with the winner being announced June 26 during the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet and Buster Posey Award presentation.
D-ROCK SOLID
NC State sophomore closer Derrick Smith has rounded into sensational form over the past two months, allowing just one earned run over his past 13 appearances dating back to a scoreless appearance at Louisville on April 7. Over those past 13 appearances, Smith's ERA is 0.52 over 17.1 innings pitched, striking out 31 batters while allowing only four hits and five walks. Six of Smith's team-high seven saves have come during this two-month stretch.
Saturday and Sunday's games for this weekend's Super Regional matchup in Athens will be televised on ESPNU. A free audio stream will be available on the Varsity Network App for each Wolfpack matchup in the NCAA Athens Super Regional and will be available on WKNC 88.1 and 99.9 The Fan with Andrew Sanders on the call.
2024 NCAA Baseball Athens Super Regional Schedule
Foley Field – Athens, Ga.
Saturday, June 8
Game 1 – No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 NC State | Noon | ESPNU
Sunday, June 9
Game 2 – No. 10 NC State vs. No. 7 Georgia | Noon | ESPNU
Monday, June 10 (If Necessary)
Game 3 – No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 NC State | Time TBD | TV TBD
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Saturday – RHP Sam Highfill (NCSU) vs. RHP Kolten Smith (Georgia)
FEELIN' SUPER
With a perfect 3-0 weekend in the NCAA Raleigh Regional, NC State advances to its sixth NCAA Super Regional in program history this weekend at No. 7 national seed Georgia. A brief note on NC State's prior five Super Regional appearances are listed below:
• 2003 (at Miami): NC State dropped the opening two games of its first Super Regional appearance at Miami's Mark Light Field. The Wolfpack dropped a one-run game in the Super Regional opener before the Hurricanes clinched the series with an 11-5 victory.
• 2008 (at Georgia): NC State and Georgia split the opening two games of the Athens Super Regional before the Bulldogs punched their ticket to Omaha with a win in game three.
• 2012 (at Florida): NC State lost its opening game against the Gators 7-1 before dropping a heartbreaker in game two, falling 9-8 to the Gators in 10 innings.
• 2013 (vs. Rice): NC State hosted its first Raleigh Super Regional to punch its first ticket to Omaha since 1968, winning back-to-back one-run games over the Owls to advance to the College World Series. The Wolfpack secured its spot in Omaha in dramatic fashion, posting a 5-4 victory in 17 innings over the Owls to win the Super Regional.
• 2021 (at Arkansas): The Wolfpack stunned top-seeded Arkansas with back-to-back one-run victories to clinch its third trip to Omaha in program history. The Razorbacks opened the weekend with a 21-2 win in the series opener before the Wolfpack evened the series with a 6-5 victory in game two. The Pack then completed the comeback with a 3-2 win in the winner-take-all matchup in game three. Jose Torres' solo homer in the ninth broke a 2-2 tie to lead NC State back to the College World Series.
THE MATCHUP: SERIES AGAINST GEORGIA
NC State holds a 2-3 record against Georgia in its series against the Bulldogs. More notes from the Pack's series history against Georgia are listed below:
• Three of NC State's five prior matchups against the Bulldogs came in the 2008 Athens Super Regional at Foley Field. NC State opens this weekend's Super Regional series on Saturday, June 8, which is exactly 16 years ago to the day that the Bulldogs won the decisive game of the 2008 Super Regional to advance to the College World Series. The Wolfpack dropped game one of the 2008 Athens Super Regional 11-4 before evening up the series with a 10-6 win in game two. Georgia clinched the series with a 17-8 victory in the winner-take-all matchup.
NCAA ALL-RALEIGH REGIONAL TEAM
NC State had five student-athletes named to the 2024 NCAA Baseball All-Raleigh Regional Team. First baseman Garrett Pennington, shortstop Brandon Butterworth, third baseman Alec Makarewicz, centerfielder Eli Serrano III and reliever Jacob Dudan were all named to the all-tournament team. Makarewicz, the tournament's most outstanding player, led the Pack with a .429 batting average, five RBI, six hits and four doubles this past weekend.
MOVING ON
NC State, the No. 10 national seed in this year's NCAA Tournament, hosted an NCAA Regional for the seventh time in program history this past weekend, all of which have come during the Elliott Avent era. All seven of NC State's times hosting a Regional have come since 2003. NC State is now 21-5 in home Regional matchups (Wilson and Raleigh). A brief note on each of those Regional host weekends is listed below:
• 2003 (Wilson, N.C.): NC State polished off a 3-0 record to advance to the Super Regionals against Miami.
• 2008: NC State posted a 3-0 record, highlighted by back-to-back wins over South Carolina, to advance to the Super Regionals against Georgia.
• 2012: NC State clawed back from a game two defeat to advance to the Super Regionals against Florida. The Wolfpack went 4-1 at The Doak and defeated Vanderbilt twice in the Regional finals to advance to the next round.
• 2013: The Wolfpack allowed just three runs in a perfect 3-0 weekend in Raleigh to then host its first Super Regional at The Doak. NC State then notched back-to-back one-run victories over Rice to advance to the College World Series for the first time since 1968.
• 2016: NC State failed to advance out of its own Regional for the first time in program history, falling to eventual national champion Coastal Carolina in a winner-take-all matchup.
• 2018: NC State dropped its opening-round matchup to Army before Auburn punched a ticket to the Super Regionals in the Regional final.
• 2024: In its first time hosting a Regional since 2018, NC State completed a three-game sweep of its Regional opponents to advance to its sixth Super Regional in program history. The Wolfpack defeated fourth-seeded Bryant, second-seeded South Carolina and third-seeded James Madison to hoist the Regional crown.
NC STATE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
With a perfect 3-0 record in the NCAA Raleigh Regional, NC State holds a 66-68 all-time record in 34 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Wolfpack has now advanced to the Super Regionals six times and the College World Series three times.
NC State has now notched Super Regional appearances in two of the past four seasons. In 2021, the Wolfpack advanced to the College World Series, posting a 7-2 record in its run to Omaha. NC State swept the NCAA Ruston Regional before storming back from a game one defeat in the Super Regionals against Arkansas to punch its ticket to Omaha.
EVERYTHING SCHOOL
NC State's athletics department has been rolling this spring. A few notes documenting NC State's success in 2024:
• NC State is the only school in the nation to have its men's and women's basketball teams make the Sweet 16, its baseball team make Super Regionals and its football team go to a bowl game.
• NC State is one of just eight schools to make the postseason in baseball, football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The Wolfpack is joined by Arizona, Duke, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Alabama.
• NC State is one of just two schools to host both an NCAA Baseball Regional and the NCAA Women's Basketball First and Second Rounds. Oregon State joins the Wolfpack in the elite group.
BUSTER POSEY AWARD FINALIST
NC State junior catcher Jacob Cozart was named a Buster Posey Award finalist on Thursday morning. Cozart is one of just three catchers nationally named a finalist for the award. Cozart, Sam Houston State's Walker Janek and Cal Poly's Ryan Stafford will be invited to Wichita, Kansas, with the winner being announced June 26 during the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet and Buster Posey Award presentation.
D-ROCK SOLID
NC State sophomore closer Derrick Smith has rounded into sensational form over the past two months, allowing just one earned run over his past 13 appearances dating back to a scoreless appearance at Louisville on April 7. Over those past 13 appearances, Smith's ERA is 0.52 over 17.1 innings pitched, striking out 31 batters while allowing only four hits and five walks. Six of Smith's team-high seven saves have come during this two-month stretch.
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