When Georgia lost the first game of its regional to Lipscomb, it looked as though N.C. State could host a Super Regional this weekend in Raleigh. But after the Bulldogs won their next four games capped by a 18-6 drubbing of Georgia Tech, the Pack learned it will have to beat Georgia in Athens to get to Omaha and the College World Series.
And the ‘Dogs are tough to beat in Athens. Georgia is 15-0 in NCAA Tournament elimination games at Foley Field and have the bats and the closer to keep that streak alive.
The Pack though, has other thoughts, after sweeping through the Raleigh regional on the backs of its pitching staff. “If we can’t go to Athens, Georgia and forget about that 5,000 [person crowd] and let them fire us up instead of getting us down, then this is all for naught,” said Tom Holliday, the associate head coach who manages the pitching staff.
Junior righthander Clayton Shunick will get the nod in game one, Holliday said. Shunick has been the stud of the staff this year, posting a 2.16 ERA in 13 starts. He said he’s looking forward to facing the potent Georgia lineup with Foley Field’s big crowd on hand.
“We’re pretty even-keeled around here, and if someone’s yelling at you, you just gotta ignore it,” Shunick said. “You can’t get over-anxious, you have to stay within yourself.”
Super Regional play is a best-of-three setup, so taking the first game is important.
“The first game is really important in a Super Regional and we’ll throw the kitchen sink at them to win game one,” Holliday said. “We’re just fortunate to have enough pitching — we can throw a kitchen sink at them and put another kitchen up the next day.”
The strength of the staff in the postseason, though, has been the bullpen — despite the loss of closer Jimmy Gillheeney, a sophomore, who the University ruled ineligible for the rest of the season.
The bullpen only gave up one hit during the Regional and hasn’t given up a run since the first game of the ACC Tournament.
“Losing a guy like Gillheeney is difficult … and yet our bullpen made it look easy, so you just sweep it under the rug,” Holliday said. “It was an adjustment, and we do have a guy on our pitching staff who’s a fifth-year senior who said ‘I want to go to Omaha pretty bad’ and [Eryk] McConnell did.”
McConnell has filled in the most as closer in Gillheeney’s absence, along with fellow lefty Alex Sogard, who finished off South Carolina Sunday night.
But what about the Pack’s bats?
Though there wasn’t an offensive explosion for State in the Regional, all that coach Elliott Avent needed from his hitters was clutch at bats. And that’s what he got.
“They’re very clutch, been around a long time, believe in themselves, believe in each other and really want to win this thing for each other,” Avent said of his hitters.
Several players after the game said they’ve been in constant contact with former players. Avent said those players from the past have been around the team, stressing the importance of the opportunity the Pack has this weekend to advance to the College World Series.
“They’re just as much a part of it as we are,” Surkamp said of the past players after Sunday’s night’s win. “It means a lot to everyone in the Wolfpack community.”
State hasn’t reached the College World Series in 40 years, with the 2003 team coming the closest to hitting the big stage. The team lost two of three to Miami then and is now in constant contact with this year’s players and affirming them with their support.
“It’d mean volumes for a lot of people. There are so many people who are invested in this program,” Avent said. “And it’d mean a lot to the players now and to the 2003 team who thought they should have gone.”
Deputy Sports Editor Langdon Morris contributed to this report
GEORGIA BULLDOGS SCOUTING REPORT
Players to watch:
Gordon Beckham, senior, shortstop
The SEC player of the year set Georgia’s single season home run record (24), is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which goes to the nation’s best amateur player, and is expected to be a top-10 pick in this month’s Major League Draft.Joshua Fields, senior, closer
State’s pitching coach labeled Fields the best closing pitcher in the nation. Some were surprised he chose to come back for a senior season, as he posted a 2.72 ERA and grabbed 16 saves for the BulldogsRich Poythress, sophomore, first base
After Georgia’s loss to Lipscomb, coach David Perno threatened to bench the slugger, who was just recovering from an injury. Poythress responded by hitting three home runs and knocking in 11 RBI over the next four games.
Strengths:
Big bats. Along with Beckham and Poythreee, two of the most potent bats in SEC, if no the country, Georgia has three other starters that have a batting average above .330. The Bulldogs scored a combined 49 runs in the four games after the loss to Lipscomb in the team’s first Regional game.Foley Field. Georgia is 15-0 in NCAA elimination games played at Foley Field, and the Bulldogs are no strangers on the path to Omaha. The successful program has built a big stadium, with a loud crowd that knows how to push their Dogs when the going gets tough.
Weaknesses:
Starting pitching. None of Georgia’s starting pitchers have an ERA under 4.40, and bad starts have been a problem for the Bulldogs late in the season. Georgia allowed early runs in the Lipscomb games and again against Georgia Tech before closing the game out. State will look to jump on Georgia early and ride the Pack’s bullpen to a win.Inconsistent play. Many experts were surprised when the NCAA gave Georgia a Super Regional site because of the way the Dogs finished the season – losing three straight, two of which came in the SEC tournament. But the Dogs turned doubters to believers with four straight wins over the weekend. Which Georgia team will show up this weekend?
