An upset is possible any given day at the ballpark.
On Tuesday afternoon, No. 10 NC State baseball learned that lesson the hard way. While March is best known for chaos in college basketball, the Wolfpack experienced madness on the diamond when Elon stunned the Pack 2-0.
The Wolfpack (14-3) failed to generate consistent offense at the plate — a theme in all three of the Pack’s losses. The Phoenix (9-7) held NC State to just four hits all afternoon while posting a shutout.
“Give credit to Elon and their starting pitcher,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “He did what he does and what we knew he does, and he did what he had to do.”
Elon seized the lead in the first inning and the Wolfpack never fully recovered. The Phoenix’s Jackson Alford reached on base via a walk before stealing third base and reaching home on a sacrifice fly. Little did NC State know, the Phoenix already did more damage than the Pack’s lineup would all afternoon.
“Right now we’re a very one-dimensional baseball team,” Avent said. “One-dimensional baseball teams get beat a lot.”
Starting sophomore pitcher Ryder Garino only lasted two innings before Avent pulled him. While he managed three strikeouts, Garino also surrendered two walks and struggled to ever find the zone. The Pack leaned on the bullpen the rest of the way, cycling through four pitchers and giving up one more run.
At the plate, the Wolfpack failed to ever threaten the Phoenix. Only managing four hits, all of which were singles, the Pack’s inability to get on base gave it zero chance of winning. So far this season, the Wolfpack appears to be very boom or bust hitting this year.
“We made no adjustments throughout the entire game,” Avent said. “We’re frustrating at times, we just refuse to make adjustments. We were gonna do what we do and somebody’s doing something different, it’s not gonna work out for us.”
NC State must find a way to find consistency at the plate to have a successful season. That starts with executing a better approach at the plate. Seemingly impatient and pressing for big hits, NC State failed to take what Elon’s pitchers gave it, which was on full display today.
“Play the game the way it was meant to be played,” Avent said. “Play what the game gives you, play what the game presents you, practice those things every day so you can execute them in the game.”
For now, the Wolfpack needs to learn to adjust and do so quickly. The schedule gets much harder once NC State enters ACC play. Any chance at competing towards the top of the ACC will require the Wolfpack to work hard in practice to build better habits at the plate.
“I don’t believe in hope,” Avent said. “I believe in work ethic, I believe in doing the things you need to do and then you might have a chance in the game. What we’re doing is hoping right now.”
NC State begins ACC play on Friday, March 13, when Boston College arrives in Raleigh. The Wolfpack and the Eagles are set to face off at 3 p.m and will be available on ACC Network Extra.
