NCAA TOURNAMENT: NC State Headed To Auburn

Yeah, I thought we were in regardless of the EA announcement.

Wolfer79 said:

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NC State @NCStateBaseball was not even in the last four in. pic.twitter.com/cMhPgCbZJp

— Inside Pack Sports (@InsidePackSport) May 25, 2026

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I'm really glad to see the consistency with the committee that getting hot in the conference tournament doesn't matter. Your resume is basically final at the end of the regular season.

Glasswolf said:

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PackPA2015 said:

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Does the committee release the actual seed list? Curious as to where State landed bubble-wise.

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I think the top 16 only. Maybe the top 32

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They're seeding the top 32 this year.

ICW Wolf said:

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Borowolf10 said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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Slobbering_Wolf said:

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Alex Gee said:

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Slobbering_Wolf said:

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Game times been announced yet?

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Trying to schedule your next "season's over" post?

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If we trot Heath out there game 1, I'll have it in the drafts lol

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Interesting decision to make between Cooper and Heath for Friday. Have to keep Nance for Saturday. I would probably lean Heath Friday.

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You cannot send Heath out there. Anyone else. Bring Heath out of the pen in need be.

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you have to have 3 starters. Heath is undoubtedly 1 of those 3. I mean that is why this team is where it is. The pitching staff isn't up to par. To me I would rather have Heath against UCF than Auburn. I prefer Cooper against Auburn in a potential Sunday matchup. I think Heath has a good chance of handling UCF for 5 or 6 innings. The real question is where do you go after that to get the last 12 outs.

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Consiglio, Nance, Hemric. Marohn if he's healthy.

People are crying online that we got in, us against the world per usual.

Yeah I'm sure Mercer would finish middle of the pack in the ACC if their top two pitchers got hurt.

Pitt people need to understand that unless you win the whole thing, the ACC Tournament doesnt matter. This has been consistent for years. We got the short stick on that one recently.

wilmwolf said:

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Yeah, I thought we were in regardless of the EA announcement.

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Really? Very dangerous situation with a 50 RPI and our non conference schedule. The bubble was soft although I thought Mercer was a tournament quality team that got left out. Would have had them in over Troy.

Borowolf10 said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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Borowolf10 said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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Slobbering_Wolf said:

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Alex Gee said:

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Slobbering_Wolf said:

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Game times been announced yet?

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Trying to schedule your next "season's over" post?

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If we trot Heath out there game 1, I'll have it in the drafts lol

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Interesting decision to make between Cooper and Heath for Friday. Have to keep Nance for Saturday. I would probably lean Heath Friday.

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You cannot send Heath out there. Anyone else. Bring Heath out of the pen in need be.

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you have to have 3 starters. Heath is undoubtedly 1 of those 3. I mean that is why this team is where it is. The pitching staff isn't up to par. To me I would rather have Heath against UCF than Auburn. I prefer Cooper against Auburn in a potential Sunday matchup. I think Heath has a good chance of handling UCF for 5 or 6 innings. The real question is where do you go after that to get the last 12 outs.

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Consiglio, Nance, Hemric. Marohn if he's healthy.

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Yeah I am going to use Hemric as one of my key bullpen arms. I like Heath over Hemric starting. Heath has 3 pitches that he commands - they just aren't elite quality. Heath doesn't have the stuff to go through a quality ACC lineup multiple times but I have a feeling he can handle UCF.

Not even close

If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

ICW Wolf said:

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wilmwolf said:

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Yeah, I thought we were in regardless of the EA announcement.

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Really? Very dangerous situation with a 50 RPI and our non conference schedule. The bubble was soft although I thought Mercer was a tournament quality team that got left out. Would have had them in over Troy.

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RPI clearly not the end all be all it used to be. Sounds like DSR and having the toughest ACC schedule got us in.

pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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Winning game one is a must. Has to be Andrews. If you win you most likely get Auburn. Will need Consiglio game 2

ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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You said it yourself. He's our best pitcher. I'm saying ONLY if he's ready. You pitch him for a few innings and get him out of there against the 2nd seeded team which I believe most fans on here believe we can win. Then Nance against Auburn.

Glasswolf said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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Winning game one is a must. Has to be Andrews. If you win you most likely get Auburn. Will need Consiglio game 2

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Yep except I am going Nance against Auburn Saturday if you beat UCF Friday. Cooper on Sunday or game 2 Saturday. State really only has 1 pathway and that is go 3-0 with this pitching staff. Just not enough depth to go 4 or 5 games.
Game 1 Heath
Game 2 Nance
Game 3 cooper

To me the formula needs to be those 3 starters and Hemric and Garino out of the pen. That's it.

pantherpack said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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You said it yourself. He's our best pitcher. I'm saying ONLY if he's ready. You pitch him for a few innings and get him out of there against the 2nd seeded team which I believe most fans on here believe we can win. Then Nance against Auburn.

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We'll see. I think there is very little chance we see Marohn. But hopefully he has been throwing pens for a couple of weeks now and it ready to give it a go. I just doubt that's the case.

ICW Wolf said:

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Glasswolf said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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Winning game one is a must. Has to be Andrews. If you win you most likely get Auburn. Will need Consiglio game 2

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Yep except I am going Nance against Auburn Saturday if you beat UCF Friday. Cooper on Sunday or game 2 Saturday. State really only has 1 pathway and that is go 3-0 with this pitching staff. Just not enough depth to go 4 or 5 games.
Game 1 Heath
Game 2 Nance
Game 3 cooper

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I would agree with you. Chances are, to advance we'd have to beat Auburn twice.

Glasswolf said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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Winning game one is a must. Has to be Andrews. If you win you most likely get Auburn. Will need Consiglio game 2

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This gets repeated year after year.

If you lose game one, you have to go 2-1 to reach the finals of the pod. If you win game one against UCF and lose game two to Auburn, you still have to be 2-1 to get to the finals of the pod.

The advantage is in winning games one AND two. So from that standpoint, winning game one is important, but it really doesn't matter how you stack your pitchers in game one and two. You have to win them both to get the advantage of being in the finals needing to be beat twice with one less game of strain on your pitching staff.

kmb717 said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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wilmwolf said:

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Yeah, I thought we were in regardless of the EA announcement.

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Really? Very dangerous situation with a 50 RPI and our non conference schedule. The bubble was soft although I thought Mercer was a tournament quality team that got left out. Would have had them in over Troy.

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RPI clearly not the end all be all it used to be. Sounds like DSR and having the toughest ACC schedule got us in.

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Mercer left out with a top 30 RPI. We likely took their spot.

Alex Gee said:

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BigLefty24 said:

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Glasswolf said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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Winning game one is a must. Has to be Andrews. If you win you most likely get Auburn. Will need Consiglio game 2

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This gets repeated year after year.

If you lose game one, you have to go 2-1 to reach the finals of the pod. If you win game one against UCF and lose game two to Auburn, you still have to be 2-1 to get to the finals of the pod.

The advantage is in winning games one AND two. So from that standpoint, winning game one is important, but it really doesn't matter how you stack your pitchers in game one and two. You have to win them both to get the advantage of being in the finals needing to be beat twice with one less game of strain on your pitching staff.

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Cooper G1. Nance G2.

Figure it out from there. Pour it out to go 2-0. Can maybe try to get cute if you win G1 and Auburn loses

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I am with you, 2-0 is the big advantage if you can get there.

Congrats to the guys for making the tournament. Hopefully they can play well and give Elliott a good send off and get back to Omaha. Long way off on that, so win the weekend.

Pitching will be key no doubt and we are thin in that area. I would not be adverse to starting Marohn in the first game. He is a veteran and you will know fairly quickly if he has it or not. Still gives you time to comeback if you need to, but he might give you 3 or 4 good innings to get you started. The coaches know if he is ready and if they start him then so be it.

Alex Gee said:

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BigLefty24 said:

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Glasswolf said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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Winning game one is a must. Has to be Andrews. If you win you most likely get Auburn. Will need Consiglio game 2

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This gets repeated year after year.

If you lose game one, you have to go 2-1 to reach the finals of the pod. If you win game one against UCF and lose game two to Auburn, you still have to be 2-1 to get to the finals of the pod.

The advantage is in winning games one AND two. So from that standpoint, winning game one is important, but it really doesn't matter how you stack your pitchers in game one and two. You have to win them both to get the advantage of being in the finals needing to be beat twice with one less game of strain on your pitching staff.

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Cooper G1. Nance G2.

Figure it out from there. Pour it out to go 2-0. Can maybe try to get cute if you win G1 and Auburn loses

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Yep, with the state of our pitching staff, winning games one and two is about the only chance State has. Otherwise, youre going to have to go 4-1, and the chances of that happening are borderline zero unless the offense just decides to go nuts.

Playing the "what if" game for who starts Saturday is fun but as sporadic as this team is, Friday is a must win no matter what. Looking past the first game is what we did in the ACC tournament only to get stomped by Duke. One-game-at-a-time!!

The moment our name was called.

Ready to get back to work! pic.twitter.com/zpq8ZUkC48

— NC State Baseball (@NCStateBaseball) May 25, 2026

Schedule out for day one of NCAA baseball regionals on Friday:

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules/college-baseball-tv-schedule/

ICW Wolf said:

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Glasswolf said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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Winning game one is a must. Has to be Andrews. If you win you most likely get Auburn. Will need Consiglio game 2

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Yep except I am going Nance against Auburn Saturday if you beat UCF Friday. Cooper on Sunday or game 2 Saturday. State really only has 1 pathway and that is go 3-0 with this pitching staff. Just not enough depth to go 4 or 5 games.
Game 1 Heath
Game 2 Nance
Game 3 cooper

To me the formula needs to be those 3 starters and Hemric and Garino out of the pen. That's it.

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I think you are correct except that the time to test Marohn if both the coaches and he think he is ready to try is versus UCF, the easier opponent in my opinion. So, if he can go, starting, where he is most comfortable is the best. If he struggles early, have Heath ready. If Marohn gives us 50 good pitches, 3-4 innings, we extend arms. I think, like you, we have to beat UCF and then Auburn twice to advance. So, CC and Nance are the two starters versus Auburn. Manage the bullpen according to game situation, score innings and who won which game previous. Marohn's 3 innings could be huge, I think you have to try, if he is ready. Manage as if you plan to win and advance with every choice. Explain to the guys if you need to. Good baseball players are not dumb. They understand and appreciate big picture managing. I would not use Hemric at all if we beat UCF until Auburn beats us once. He would be the if game starter. Of course, if we need 3 outs in game 4 with a 4 plus run lead and need to change pitchers, I could change my mind. Just an old baseball guys thoughts on our situation.

Alex Gee said:

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BigLefty24 said:

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Glasswolf said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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Winning game one is a must. Has to be Andrews. If you win you most likely get Auburn. Will need Consiglio game 2

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This gets repeated year after year.

If you lose game one, you have to go 2-1 to reach the finals of the pod. If you win game one against UCF and lose game two to Auburn, you still have to be 2-1 to get to the finals of the pod.

The advantage is in winning games one AND two. So from that standpoint, winning game one is important, but it really doesn't matter how you stack your pitchers in game one and two. You have to win them both to get the advantage of being in the finals needing to be beat twice with one less game of strain on your pitching staff.

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Cooper G1. Nance G2.

Figure it out from there. Pour it out to go 2-0. Can maybe try to get cute if you win G1 and Auburn loses

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You think Heath can't beat UCF? Or could Marohn if he is healthy? What message are you sending your way? So, your way Heath has to beat Auburn. Give Heath the ball first, win the game and then you have CC and Nance to beat Auburn. Heath pitches against UCF. Marohn needs to be tested early if you are going to use him so I think UCF is the weaker opponent. Has to be game one. Avent and Chrysler have seen him on the side. They will know if he is game ready. That's not being cute it is being smart and trying to win. Garino, Manuel and Kitchings will have to be big also. We have to win 3 games and likely 2 versus Auburn. Plan on beating Auburn twice the best way you can. Baseball, even in tournaments is a marathon not a sprint.

Packsd14me said:

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Alex Gee said:

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BigLefty24 said:

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Glasswolf said:

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ICW Wolf said:

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pantherpack said:

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If Marohn is ready, you start him Friday night. See if he can get you 3-4 innings or have a set pitch count for him. Then go to Andrews and figure it out from there. Win game one and start Nance on Saturday. I'd save CC for game 3.

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Some of you clearly have never played this sport. Why would you throw a guy out there who hasn't pitched in over a month to start game 1. I get that he is our best pitcher and I get where our staff is but that is just asking for trouble. There are no rehab starts in college baseball. Would be a really tough spot for Marohn.

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Winning game one is a must. Has to be Andrews. If you win you most likely get Auburn. Will need Consiglio game 2

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This gets repeated year after year.

If you lose game one, you have to go 2-1 to reach the finals of the pod. If you win game one against UCF and lose game two to Auburn, you still have to be 2-1 to get to the finals of the pod.

The advantage is in winning games one AND two. So from that standpoint, winning game one is important, but it really doesn't matter how you stack your pitchers in game one and two. You have to win them both to get the advantage of being in the finals needing to be beat twice with one less game of strain on your pitching staff.

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Cooper G1. Nance G2.

Figure it out from there. Pour it out to go 2-0. Can maybe try to get cute if you win G1 and Auburn loses

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You think Heath can't beat UCF? Or could Marohn if he is healthy? What message are you sending your way? So, your way Heath has to beat Auburn. Give Heath the ball first, win the game and then you have CC and Nance to beat Auburn. Heath pitches against UCF. Marohn needs to be tested early if you are going to use him so I think UCF is the weaker opponent. Has to be game one. Avent and Chrysler have seen him on the side. They will know if he is game ready. That's not being cute it is being smart and trying to win. Garino, Manuel and Kitchings will have to be big also. We have to win 3 games and likely 2 versus Auburn. Plan on beating Auburn twice the best way you can. Baseball, even in tournaments is a marathon not a sprint.

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Yep with you. Much rather have Heath goign against UCF than Auburn. Take your chances you get good CC against Auburn on Sunday. I personally think Heath will handle UCF. I do not want to see Heath against Auburn on Sunday b

EthanBarry said:

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Saving Consiglio for game 3 is insane IMO. You go all out to get to 2-0. If you don't, you're cooked. If you get to 2-0 and blow it, so be it. That means Consiglio, Nance and whatever Marohn can do. I could see them starting Andrews Friday, but because they think he's the best option, not saving Consiglio for later. If they do that, Nance will be in relief assuming they need him in either of the first two games. Some of you guys are talking like State is the 4th overall seed and can coast in game 1

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You aren't trying to win 1 game. You are trying to set up to win a regional. I like Consiglio vs Auburn better than I do Heath. As I have said States path is 3-0. They don't have the arms to go 4-1. So that means setting your matchups to go 3-0.

Not to mention I have no better faith in Consiglio to beat UCF as I do Heath. Marginal difference at best. Last outing for Consiglio was 4.0 10 hits and 10 runs. Let's not act like we are talking Ryan Marohn here. Consiglio outings have been 50/50. Bad against UNC, bad against Wake, bad against Va Tech, good against Stanford and Miami. What consiglio does have is a slightly better ability to miss bats against higher end comp. There is a considerable difference between ACC/SEC bats and Big 12 bats.