DUGOUT REPORT: Wolfpack Falls Versus Florida in Omaha

No. 11 NC State’s Elliott Avent, Sam Highfill, Alec Makarewicz, and Logan Whitaker met with the media following the Wolfpack’s 5-4 loss to Florida in the 2024 NCAA Men’s College World Series.

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

No. 11 NC State (38-23) dropped its elimination-bracket matchup to Florida (35-29) Monday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field in the 2024 NCAA Men’s College World Series, 5-4.

Dominic Fritton (3-7, 7.64 ERA) earned the loss for the Wolfpack after surrendering four runs on two hits and three walks despite fanning three Gators in two innings. Whitaker relieved Fritton and struck out a career-high 10 batters while yielding just one run on two hits and three walks over the final seven frames.

The NC State offense would strike first in the bottom of the first inning. Garrett Pennington got hit by Jac Caglianone’s 1-2 pitch before back-to-back walks to Makarewicz and Jacob Cozart loaded the bases. Brandon Butterworth then lined a base hit to left field to drive Pennington home. However, Florida turned the tide one inning later.

Fritton loaded the bases for the Gators with a pair of walks to Dale Thomas and Brody Donay and a single to Michael Robertson. Cade Kurland tied the score with a sacrifice fly to bring Thomas home. Caglianone then crushed Fritton’s 0-1 offering into the right-center-field bleachers for his 34^th home run of the season, giving Florida the 4-1 lead.

Makarewicz cut into the lead in the bottom of the third with a home run of his own. Pennington reached base via another beanball, this time by Cade Fisher (4-3, 7.13 ERA), before the Longwood, Fla. native connected on the first pitch he saw for his 24^th long ball of the season. However, Tyler Shelnut would hit a solo shot in the top of the fifth, his 16^th of the year, to extend the Gators’ lead to two.

The Pack’s final run would come in the bottom of the fifth inning. Pennington led off the frame with a double before scoring on a two-bagger by Butterworth. The closest NC State would come to tying the game came in the bottom of the eighth inning when Andrew Shaffner, pinch-running for Alex Sosa who led off with a base hit, reached third base. However, Brandon Neely would leave Shaffner stranded and retire the top of the lineup in order to secure his fifth save of the season.

As Florida advances to face the loser of Monday night’s matchup between Texas A&M and Kentucky, NC State returns to Raleigh with its 2024 season coming to a close as the Wolfpack’s fourth College World Series appearance ends at the hands of the Gators.