Some things can’t get any bigger than they already are.
North Carolina is No. 1 in the latest Collegiate Baseball poll, and N.C. State is No. 7. The two teams meet this weekend for a three-game series at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, marking the first time the rivals will both be in the Top 10 when playing each other.
But freshman pitcher Erik Surkamp said the rivalry is strong enough without the rankings.
“Carolina’s Carolina. There’s enough hype right there,” Surkamp said.
Last season, the two teams met on the final weekend of April for a three-game series at Doak Field. Each game was decided late, including extra-inning contests the final two days, as the Wolfpack won two out of three against the Tar Heels.
The final game on Sunday even featured a clearing of the benches when Greg Mangum ran into State catcher Jake Muyco when trying to force the ball loose on a play at the plate. The umpire ejected Mangum, and after order was restored, State went on to win the game 8-7 in 10 innings and take the series.
“I would classify it as an instant classic. And the Sunday game had everything you could imagine – extra innings, grand slam. It had an almost brawl. It had a walk-off hit,” senior center fielder Matt Camp said. “It had just about anything you could imagine, and it was fun to be a part of, especially coming out with the win.”
Redshirt junior first baseman Aaron Bates, who is hitting .375 with 7 home runs, was quick to note that each year can bring out unique events.
“I think each year’s a different thing. I think this year has all the potential to be another special series.”
Redshirt junior pitcher Sam Walls, the Pack’s closer, is 5-0 with 6 saves and a 1.17 ERA in 16 appearances coming into the series against Carolina.
Walls said the team doesn’t feel any need to earn vindication for being ranked lower, but that the team will let its play do the talking.
“I think people will look at it that way. We’re not going to look at it as our chance to make a statement,” Walls said. “We feel like we’re the best team in college baseball. We’re just going to go out and try to play like it.”
State has won seven out of the last 10 games against the Tar Heels.
With last year’s games going down to the wire and the chance that this weekend’s series could offer similar results, sophomore second baseman Ramon Corona said the game will be decided by the fundamentals.
“It’s going to come down to the defense, not making mistakes on the field and doing the little things as far as bunting and moving people over and working for that run,” Corona said. “That’s what these games seem to come down to.”
Sophomore pitcher Andrew Brackman, who will be pitching tonight for the Pack, also threw on Friday against Carolina last year, going for 12 strikeouts. He and closer Joey Devine combined for 18 strikeouts to set a school record for an ACC game.
Brackman said it will be important for the team to bring the same kind of intensity it has for home games.
“Hopefully we can just bring the energy, bring that energy we have when we play here and just go out and win some ball games,” Brackman said.
With his team tied for the best record in the ACC and in a tie for the ACC Atlantic Division lead with Florida State at 13-5, coach Elliott Avent said he doesn’t think the weekend will necessarily make or break his team’s chances to host an NCAA Tournament regional.
“If you ask me and [Carolina coach] Mike [Fox], we probably both feel like we deserve to host a regional, and we probably do,” Avent said. “Now whether they’ll let two teams 20 miles apart host regionals is unknown, but both of these teams are deserving to host regionals.”
Walls said the team feels like it can do big things this season and that the series against the Tar Heels provides a great platform to build momentum for a meaningful season.
“We feel like this is our year to do something special. They probably feel the same,” Walls said. “They’ve got their pitchers [and] we’ve got our lineup, so it should be fun to watch.”
