NC State vs. Florida in College World Series: 3 thoughts, a bold prediction and more
OMAHA, Neb. — NC State is set to square off with Florida, looking to keep its season going at the Men’s College World Series, on Monday afternoon.
The Wolfpack, which fell via walk-off fashion to Kentucky in the opener, and it is looking to earn its first win in Omaha against a red-hot Gators squad.
Here are three thoughts, a bold prediction and more ahead of NC State and Florida’s College World Series showdown.
3 thoughts going into Florida
– It’s time for NC State to rebound. The Wolfpack have played just one elimination game in the NCAA Tournament, which was Game 3 at Georgia in front of a hostile crowd. That experience should be helpful with the Pack playing with its back against the wall for the rest of its foreseeable future in Omaha. NC State was able to weather the storm at Georgia, gritting out an 8-5 win to punch its ticket to the College World Series. It will need to channel that mindset against Florida and every game it plays after should it advance through the loser’s bracket.
– Florida is expected to start left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone, a two-way standout, on the mound against NC State. Caglianone has pitched 72.2 innings with 82 strikeouts, 48 walks en route to a 4.71 ERA this spring. He will provide a tall challenge for the Wolfpack’s hitters, which have appeared to struggle against left-handed pitching this season. NC State’s order is predominantly left-handed, which creates a poor matchup when opposing teams trot a southpaw onto the field. With the Pack’s season on the line, NC State’s hitters will need to look to create solid, low contact to get on base in the pitcher-friendly park in Omaha. But Caglianone will not make that an easy thing to do.
– This is NC State’s hitters’ chance to show what they can do against Caglianone. The Pack will lean on graduate third baseman Alec Makarewicz, graduate first baseman Garrett Pennington and junior catcher Jacob Cozart against the two-way star on the mound for the Gators. Those three will be pivotal in setting the tone for the rest of NC State’s order, along with the Pack’s pitching staff for the rest of the game.
Bold prediction
– NC State needs its hitters to get going. I’ll predict the Wolfpack will hit four or more doubles against Florida in the College World Series elimination game.
Broadcast details
Television: ESPN
First pitch: 2 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. CT
Radio: WKNC 88.1 & 99.9 (all weekend)
Broadcaster: Andrew Sanders (play-by-play)
Probable pitchers
– LHP Jac Caglianone (Florida) vs. LHP Dominic Fritton OR RHP Logan Whitaker (NC State)
NC State game notes
– Junior catcher Jacob Cozart went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk in the College World Series opener, while graduate third baseball Alec Makarewicz went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run.
– Graduate right-handed pitcher Sam Highfill tossed seven three-run innings with two walks and seven strikeouts against Kentucky. Freshman reliever Jacob Dudan went one inning with one run allowed on two hits with a walk and a strikeout, while sophomore closer Derrick Smith went 1.2 innings with one earned run and a pair of walks.
– Cozart is a finalist for the Buster Posey Award, which honors the best catcher in college baseball. He is joined by Sam Houston State’s Walker Janek and Cal Poly’s Ryan Stafford and the winner will be announced June 26.
– Graduate third baseman Alec Makarewicz has earned All-America honors from ABCA/Rawlings (second team) and NCBWA (third team). The ECU transfer was also named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region First Team.
– NC State and Florida have met seven times before the College World Series matchup, and the Gators hold a 2-5 record. Six of the seven meetings have come in the NCAA Tournament. The two teams played twice in 2012, once in 1996 and once in 1991 — four of the contests came in a regional and the two most recent meetings occurred in the Gainesville Super Regional.
Florida outlook
– The Gators lost 3-2 to No. 4 Texas A&M in their College World Series opener on Saturday night, which was preceded by a four-hour rain delay. Third baseman Dale Thomas led the team with a 2-for-4 game that included an RBI and a run scored.
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