DUGOUT REPORT: Dawgs Stymie Wolfpack to Even Super Regional

Members from No. 11 NC State and No. 10 Georgia met with the media following the Wolfpack's 11-2 loss to the Bulldogs Sunday afternoon in the 2024 NCAA Athens Super Regional.

Head coach Elliott Avent, third baseman Alec Makarewicz, and first baseman Garrett Pennington represented the Wolfpack. Head coach Wes Johnson, second baseman Slate Alford, right-handed pitcher Leighton Finley, and designated hitter Tre Phelps addressed the media on behalf of the Bulldogs.

NOTE: Click on each respective thumbnail to watch each press conference in the player above.

Despite a tremendous offensive outpouring in the game prior, No. 11 NC State (37-21) saw its bats fall silent as No. 10 Georgia (43-16) bested the Wolfpack Sunday afternoon at Foley Field in the second game of the 2024 NCAA Athens Super Regional, 11-2.

Dominic Fritton (3-6, 7.91 ERA) got saddled with the loss after the Bulldogs shellacked the southpaw for seven runs on seven hits and one walk over just three innings pitched. Ryan Marohn succeed Fritton and tossed four innings in which he yielded four runs on six hits. Hollis Fanning and Carson Kelly combined to pitch the game’s final two innings.

Alford put the Dawgs on the board early, knocking a two-run home run in the top of the first inning that also plated Charlie Condon. Two innings later, Phelps padded the lead with a three-run shot that drove Alford and Paul Toetz home as well.

In the fourth inning, Georgia added three more runs to make it an eight-run advantage. Kolby Branch got it rolling with an RBI double to plate Dillon Carter. An RBI groundout by Corey Collins brought Fernando Gonzalez home from third base. After a pair of walks and a pop-fly in foul territory, Phelps added another RBI the hard way, getting beaned with the bases loaded to allow Branch to make the 90-foot stroll to the plate.

Toetz scored the Bulldogs’ ninth run of the game with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. One inning later, Georgia’s run total hit double digits thanks to an RBI single by Gonzalez to drive Clayton Chadwick home. The Wolfpack would manage to break the shutout after the seventh-inning stretch. With runners on the corners and one away, Noah Soles broke up what would have been a double-play ball by reaching on an RBI fielder’s choice while Luke Nixon raced home.

Both teams would score their final runs in the eighth inning. In the top half, Collins led off with a solo home run to right field. However, Jacob Cozart would answer with a home run of his own that accidentally damaged the stadium’s video board in right-center field.

The Wolfpack and the Bulldogs will meet on Monday to determine who will advance to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.