Takeaways: Wolfpack's bats go cold in ACC title game loss
CHARLOTTE -- NC State picked a terrible time to be shut out for the first time this season. Following a 1-0 loss to Duke in the title game at Truist Field Sunday, the Wolfpack’s ACC Championship drought is now 29 years. Duke captured its first title of the tournament era.
The Wolfpack’s bats could not get anything going, and NC State will now wait to see where its season will continue in the NCAA regional round next weekend.
Here’s a few key takeaways from the Wolfpack’s loss today:
Bats go ice cold
An NC State lineup known for its potency and depth one through nine simply could not find a way to make anything happen on Sunday. A ton of credit has to go to Duke’s pitching staff, particularly starter Cooper Stinson, who allowed just three hits and struck out six in six innings pitched.
But NC State also had too many poor at-bats, mustering just five total hits and striking out nine times. The Pack let its few opportunities, including being gifted a runner on third in the sixth (more on that below) and a leadoff single for Jonny Butler in the ninth, go by the wayside, leaving six on base throughout the day.
Willadsen shoves early, struggles late in short start
NC State turned to Matt Willadsen on the mound in this one, and he dealt in his early innings, retiring the first six batters he faced and striking out the side in the second as he stymied Duke’s lineup with his curveball.
In 4.2 innings, Willadsen allowed one run on four hits while striking out six and walking one.
Willadsen began to show signs of trouble in the third before getting some help from his fielders as Devonte Brown and J.T. Jarrett combined to nail a runner at home after a double off the wall. In the fourth, he really started to look shaky as he allowed a leadoff double. The Blue Devils only ended up getting one run on a sac fly, but Willadsen gave up hard contact against each of the first three batters.
With two on and two outs in the top of the fifth and Duke lineup due to start a third time through, Elliott Avent elected to make a change and go with Chris Villaman.
Villaman gives the Pack a chance
While NC State could not find a way to get its bats going in the middle innings, Villaman gave it plenty of opportunities and kept his team in the game with an excellent long relief outing to finish the game.
Villaman took over for Willadsen in the bottom of the fifth and threw 4.1 scoreless, hitless innings, allowing just one base runner via a walk. Villaman struck out six and displayed excellent fastball command to stymie Duke’s lineup, throwing 40 his 54 total pitches for strikes and leaving NC State one swing of the bat away after striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth.
Missed opportunity in the sixth
Heading into the bottom of the sixth, NC State had not gotten anything going against Stinson, who was dealing with just three hits allowed and six strikeouts through five. The Pack had yet to get a runner past first base.
The Wolfpack was essentially gifted a runner on third, as Austin Murr took first on an error, and then, on what looked like a sure double play ball from Tyler McDonough, took third with one out on an errant throw.
It appeared Murr would score easily on a fly out to center by Jonny Butler, but left the bag early and had to go back and tag, which led to him having to stay at third on a good throw by Duke center fielder Joey Loperfido, as the Pack ended up getting nothing out of its golden chance and still trailed 1-0 through six.
That ended up being the Wolfpack’s best opportunity of the day, and one that will likely haunt this team after a 1-0 loss.
The drought continues
After a 24-6 finish to the regular season gave NC State the third seed in this year’s ACC Tournament, and great pitching performances sent the Pack to the title game, the Wolfpack appeared to have a golden opportunity to win the ACC Championship for the first time since 1992 and first time in Avent’s 25-year career as head coach, but it wasn’t meant to be.
While the Wolfpack still has a chance to accomplish plenty this season, an ACC title won’t be part of it, and this will likely stand out as one of the more painful losses of the Avent era.
NC State will now turn its attention to the NCAA regional round next weekend, and will know its seed and draw tomorrow at noon.