No. 17 NC State vs. No. 8 Wake Forest: 3 thoughts, a bold prediction and more
No. 17 NC State is riding a hot streak in ACC play as it has not dropped a ranked series against league opponents all spring. That will be put to the test against No. 8 Wake Forest this weekend at Doak Field.
Here are three thoughts, a bold prediction and more going into the top-20 ACC showdown between the Demon Deacons and Wolfpack.
3 thoughts going into the series
– It has been a common theme over the last month, but it holds true yet again: this is a big weekend for the Wolfpack. If NC State can take the series over Wake Forest, it would put itself in a solid spot to host an NCAA Tournament regional in Raleigh. The Wolfpack has put together a solid resume in league play with four series wins over top-12 opponents, and a fifth would all but put the red and white inside the committee’s top 16 on Selection Monday.
– NC State’s pitching staff did well in its two wins at then-No. 10 Virginia over the weekend. The Wolfpack only needed a total of four pitchers in those two games with Jacob Dudan and Cooper Consiglio each pitching the rest of the game from the bullpen with effective stuff. While that will be hard to do against Wake Forest’s batting order, the Wolfpack bullpen is clicking on all cylinders at the right time. If NC State can get five to six innings out of each of its starters this weekend, the Pack should feel good about its chances to lock the game down with its relievers in the later innings.
– The Wolfpack has the opportunity to lock up the third spot in the league standings with a series win over the Demon Deacons. NC State sits 15-11 in ACC play, which is currently tied for second with Florida State. If the Pack can win a pair, it is likely that it will be good enough for at least third in the league since it would hold the tiebreaker over Virginia and Duke. The scoreboard will be something to keep an eye on throughout the weekend as the league looks to figure out the conference tournament pods for next week in Charlotte.
Bold prediction
– NC State’s hitters will out smash Wake Forest. That’s a tough task against the league-leading home run squad with 100, but if the Wolfpack wants to beat the Demon Deacons, it likely will need to give the visitors a taste of their own medicine in Raleigh.
Probable pitchers
Fri: RHP David Falco Jr. (Wake Forest) vs. RHP Sam Highfill (NC State)
Sat: RHP Chase Burns (Wake Forest) vs. LHP Dominic Fritton (NC State)
Sun: LHP Josh Hartle (Wake Forest) vs. TBA (NC State)
Broadcast details
Television: ACC Network
First pitch: 7 p.m. (Fri.)
Broadcasters: Matt Schick (play-by-play) and Mike Rooney (analyst)
Streaming: ACCNX
First pitch: 7 p.m. (Thurs.) & 3 p.m. (Sat.)
Radio: WKNC 88.1
Broadcaster: Tony Haynes (play-by-play)
NC State game notes
– NC State’s hitters are averaging an ACC-best 6.38 strikeouts per game this spring. The Pack only has 36 strikeouts in 48 games this year. It also boasts the best average in league play at 7.31 strikeouts per game when an ACC arm is throwing at the lineup.
– The Wolfpack has five players with active on-base streaks of 10 games or more. Graduate third baseman Alec Makarewicz has reached in 15 straight games, while junior catcher Jacob Cozart is at 12, sophomore outfielder Eli Serrano III is at 11, junior outfielder Chase Nixon is at 11 and junior shortstop Brandon Butterworth is at 10 games. Makarewicz’s streak is also the longest hitting streak for the Wolfpack this season at 15 games.
– The red and white will honor its seniors on Sunday afternoon. The Pack will recognize Carson Falsken, Noah Soles, Garrett Payne, Matt Willadsen, Garrett Pennington, P.J. Labriola, John Miralia, Hollis Fanning and Makarewicz before the game.
– NC State holds a 126-68 lead in the all-time series against Wake Forest. The Wolfpack, however, have lost five straight regular season meetings against the Demon Deacons. The Pack did beat Wake Forest in the 2022 ACC Tournament opener with an 11-8 win.
Wake Forest outlook
– The Demon Deacons are fresh off a three-game sweep over then-No. 2 Clemson last weekend in Winston-Salem. Wake Forest starter Chase Burns allowed just two hits and struck out 16 batters in his start last Saturday. Burns leads the country with 156 strikeouts this season.
– Wake Forest leads the ACC in walks drawn (336), hit by pitch (74), home runs (100), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.55) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.9) this season.
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