DUGOUT REPORT: Wolfpack Dismantles Dukes, Secures Spot in Supers

No. 11 NC State’s Elliott Avent, Noah Soles, Alec Makarewicz, and Logan Whitaker met with the media following the Wolfpack’s 5-3 win versus James Madison Sunday evening in the 2024 NCAA Raleigh Regional.

NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch the Wolfpack’s press conference.

NC State (36-20) capped off the 2024 NCAA Raleigh Regional with a dominant victory over James Madison (36-25) Sunday evening at Doak Field, 5-3.

Whitaker (3-1, 5.58 ERA) picked up the win after striking out six Dukes over six innings while allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. After Jacob Dudan hurled two innings in which he surrendered one run on two hits with four strikeouts, Derrick Smith collected his seventh save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out two batters in the process.

Playing as the road team despite hosting, the Wolfpack struck first in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Jacob Cozart and Brandon Butterworth drew back-to-back walks to drive Matt Heavner and Soles home, respectively. Mike Mancini would cut State’s lead in half in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to left field.

Makarewicz padded the lead in the top of the sixth, belting his 20^th home run of the season over the right-field wall. However, Mancini drilled Whitaker’s first pitch in his next at-bat in the bottom of the frame to bring it back to a 3-2 advantage for the Wolfpack.

Both teams traded runs yet again in the eighth inning. Garrett Pennington led off the top half with a base hit to bring Makarewicz to the plate. After drawing a full count, the regional’s Most Outstanding Player drilled a line drive to center field for a double with Pennington, taking off on the pitch, racing around the bases to score. In the bottom half of the frame, Mancini continued his hot evening with an RBI double of his own, driving Fenwick Trimble home after the latter’s two-bagger in the at-bat beforehand.

Soles fired the last salvo of the regional for State’s final insurance run. Leading off in the top of the ninth inning, the Thomasville, N.C. native crushed Sean Culkin’s 2-1 pitch over the right-field wall before delicately placing his bat down, a passive response to the umpires’ warning to the team after his bat flip against Bryant in the regional opener. Smith would then slam the door on the regional in the bottom of the inning.

The Wolfpack will venture to Athens, Ga. to face No. 10 Athens in the 2024 NCAA Super Regionals. Game times from Foley Field are to be determined. 

2024 NCAA Raleigh All-Regional Team

Catcher: Cole Messina, South Carolina

First Base: Garrett Pennington, NC State 

Second Base: Mike Mancini, James Madison

Shortstop: Brandon Butterworth, NC State

Third Base: Alec Makarewicz, NC State 

Left Fielder: Dylan Brewer, South Carolina 

Center Fielder: Eli Serrano, III, NC State

Right Fielder: Brendan O’Donnell, James Madison

Designated Hitter: Ethan Petry, South Carolina 

Pitcher: Donovan Burke, James Madison

Pitcher: Jacob Dudan, NC State

Most Outstanding Player: Alec Makarewicz, NC State