Friday 3 PM W 17-4
Saturday 2 PM W 15-5
Sunday 1Pm W 13-0

Love the way the team is looking so far, but wondering about the nature of this early OOC schedule. I admit I am not as well versed in baseball scheduling vs basketball or football when it comes to positioning yourself for postseason play and getting the team in competitive shape. Sacred Heart is currently 1-5 and has been getting beat down by 10 runs or more against North Florida and ETSU so far. Other early opponents have been similarly weak.
It is one thing to play games against teams one level below you, but these teams are several levels down. Is the idea just to get some glorified spring training games in because the conference games will do more than enough to help the RPI rating from a strength of schedule perspective? Would it be better to get tested a little more, or is it preferable to just stack wins and reps and experiment with lineups in low stress situations like this?

Travlnwolf said:

---

Good gracious. Avent has taken two teams to the CWS this decade. I trust that he knows how to prep a team for conference play and postseason.

Conference play starts March 13. There won't be any easy series from then on.

I really like what I see from the pitching staff. The weekend and weekday starters appear solid. Several others have excelled in relief.

This could be a fun season.

---

I wasn't trying to be critical, just honestly trying to understand the thinking behind the choice of opponents, that's all.

My thought is that as of right now, I think four of our conference weekend series are against top 25 teams and several others that project to make the post season, along with mid week games against teams that are either top 25 or also are projected post season type teams. The staff must feel like that's enough of a challenge. It's been a pretty consistent scheduling strategy for a while now, and it feels like a discussion like this takes place pretty much every year. We could've been in a better tournament for sure, and maybe swap one weekend series for a bigger opponent, but we aren't going to schedule a bunch of tough weekend series that we might lose to start the year when we have so many tough conference series IMO.

AustinWolf828 said:

---

For anyone worried about the loss to Princeton.

Disastrous past week for the SEC 😳

• #2 LSU beaten by McNeese

• #6 Arkansas crushed by Arkansas State

• #7 Auburn nearly lost to 1-7 UWG

• #11 Georgia beaten by Troy

• #13 OU run-ruled by ASU

• #20 Tennessee lost series to Kent State

• SC beaten by Army & Queens

— College Baseball News (@CollegeBSBNews) February 26, 2026

---

Baseball is a weird game. Throwing a perfect game ten give up a HR. Lose 1-0. Any team can beat another team on any night

wilmwolf said:

---

My thought is that as of right now, I think four of our conference weekend series are against top 25 teams and several others that project to make the post season, along with mid week games against teams that are either top 25 or also are projected post season type teams. The staff must feel like that's enough of a challenge. It's been a pretty consistent scheduling strategy for a while now, and it feels like a discussion like this takes place pretty much every year. We could've been in a better tournament for sure, and maybe swap one weekend series for a bigger opponent, but we aren't going to schedule a bunch of tough weekend series that we might lose to start the year when we have so many tough conference series IMO.

---

I just think there is a middle ground between Sacred Heart and LSU. There are plenty of solid respectable programs in our region that we should still sweep but give us a much better test over thr curse of the weekend.

Glasswolf said:

---

AustinWolf828 said:

---

For anyone worried about the loss to Princeton.

Disastrous past week for the SEC 😳

• #2 LSU beaten by McNeese

• #6 Arkansas crushed by Arkansas State

• #7 Auburn nearly lost to 1-7 UWG

• #11 Georgia beaten by Troy

• #13 OU run-ruled by ASU

• #20 Tennessee lost series to Kent State

• SC beaten by Army & Queens

— College Baseball News (@CollegeBSBNews) February 26, 2026

---

Baseball is a weird game. Throwing a perfect game ten give up a HR. Lose 1-0. Any team can beat another team on any night

---

We have this same conversation every year on here for some reason.

This is February and March baseball. Anyone can win right now. It's cold, guys have been hitting in cages for two months, pitchers still finding their way, lineups being moved around a ton, ball not carrying as much and much more.

Part of why I don't get hung up on the schedule. Teams will look completely different at the end of March and April vs now.

CLTWolf said:

---

wilmwolf said:

---

My thought is that as of right now, I think four of our conference weekend series are against top 25 teams and several others that project to make the post season, along with mid week games against teams that are either top 25 or also are projected post season type teams. The staff must feel like that's enough of a challenge. It's been a pretty consistent scheduling strategy for a while now, and it feels like a discussion like this takes place pretty much every year. We could've been in a better tournament for sure, and maybe swap one weekend series for a bigger opponent, but we aren't going to schedule a bunch of tough weekend series that we might lose to start the year when we have so many tough conference series IMO.

---

Ga Tech, unc, Coastal, wake, miami and fsu are currently on our schedule and in the top 25.

duke is trying to make the top 25 by starting out 8-2 and let's be honest, if their coach doesn't leave for uva then they're most def in the top 25.

---

Ecu got their ss back and are playing better now. Beat coastal last night. We have them twice

ECU beat College of Charleston last night not Coastal

wgpack said:

---

ECU beat College of Charleston last night not Coastal

---

Ahh...my brother is an idiot then. He said coastal when I talked to him yesterday. Either way, despite the slow start, they will be good I'm sure. They have a legit ace

Appears to be a good weekend for Baseball

No. 14 NC State's starting rotation vs. Sacred Heart this weekend:

Friday: LHP Ryan Marohn
Saturday: RHP Jacob Dudan
Sunday: LHP Cooper Consiglio

— Noah Fleischman (@fleischman_noah) February 26, 2026

What we've seen so far is extended batting practice. Bring on some real competition and lets see what we have with this team!

Game 9⃣ for the #Pack9

🆚: Sacred Heart
⏰: 3 p.m.
🏟️: The Doak
📺: ACCNX
📊: https://t.co/ZR2cYRJVUS
📻: @WKNC881 | @varsitynetwrk
🥜: @NCpeanuts pic.twitter.com/winxofHw92

— NC State Baseball (@NCStateBaseball) February 27, 2026

Pakbackr said:

---

What we've seen so far is extended batting practice. Bring on some real competition and lets see what we have with this team!

---

There is a lot to like with this team, but yes it makes it difficult to truly evaluate where we are.

Game 9 vs. Sacred Heart pic.twitter.com/d7TmHLZUUU

— NC State Baseball Equipment (@PackBaseballEQ) February 27, 2026

Pakbackr said:

---

What we've seen so far is extended batting practice. Bring on some real competition and let's see what we have with this team!

---

For the most part, we have already been shutout though

Any weather updates in Raleigh?

Wolfblood said:

---

Any weather updates in Raleigh?

---

Annoying, misty rain but nothing heavy. Rain is supposed to move out this afternoon.

James Henderson said:

---

ICW Wolf said:

---

Pakbackr said:

---

What we've seen so far is extended batting practice. Bring on some real competition and lets see what we have with this team!

---

There is a lot to like with this team, but yes it makes it difficult to truly evaluate where we are.

---

We'd definitely be evaluating it if it wasn't going too well.

---

If it wasn't going well vs this competition then we should be evaluating, tbh

The #Pack9 for game 9⃣

🆚: Sacred Heart
⏰: 3 p.m.
🏟️: The Doak
📺: ACCNX
📊: https://t.co/HQpxzFtkww
📻: @WKNC881 | @varsitynetwrk
🥜: @NCpeanuts pic.twitter.com/6Obl19HFg3

— NC State Baseball (@NCStateBaseball) February 27, 2026

James Henderson said:

---

ICW Wolf said:

---

Pakbackr said:

---

What we've seen so far is extended batting practice. Bring on some real competition and lets see what we have with this team!

---

There is a lot to like with this team, but yes it makes it difficult to truly evaluate where we are.

---

We'd definitely be evaluating it if it wasn't going too well.

---

Yep. Princeton plays 4 games with Duke this week. They might be better than people are giving them credit for. Winthrop might be a good team as well.

UNC split with ECU and is playing 0-6 Le Moyne this weekend. NC State is not alone in opening against weak teams.

As a fan, I'd prefer games against other T25 teams, but Avent is getting a chance to evaluate the team. And the TEAM is getting game experience.

That said, Sacred Heart… Sheesh.

Travlnwolf said:

---

James Henderson said:

---

ICW Wolf said:

---

Pakbackr said:

---

What we've seen so far is extended batting practice. Bring on some real competition and lets see what we have with this team!

---

There is a lot to like with this team, but yes it makes it difficult to truly evaluate where we are.

---

We'd definitely be evaluating it if it wasn't going too well.

---

Yep. Princeton plays 4 games with Duke this week. They might be better than people are giving them credit for. Winthrop might be a good team as well.

UNC split with ECU and is playing 0-6 Le Moyne this weekend. NC State is not alone in opening against weak teams.

As a fan, I'd prefer games against other T25 teams, but Avent is getting a chance to evaluate the team. And the TEAM is getting game experience.

That said, Sacred Heart… Sheesh.

---

Considering the amount practice the team lost due to to bad weather, they need some glorified batting practice.

James Henderson said:

---

ICW Wolf said:

---

Pakbackr said:

---

What we've seen so far is extended batting practice. Bring on some real competition and lets see what we have with this team!

---

There is a lot to like with this team, but yes it makes it difficult to truly evaluate where we are.

---

We'd definitely be evaluating it if it wasn't going too well.

---

Yep we probably would.

Shermanator with 2 run hr

Solid arm on the mound today for SH.

Does ESPN pipe in crowd noise or do they mic the dugouts? Seems like a lot of noise for a relatively small crowd.

Normally the mic over the visiting dugout is ridiculously loud.

Pretty bad defense there gives up a run

Head is on a damn burner.