Takeaways: NC State punches ticket to championship game with win over Georgia Tech

CHARLOTTE -- At the end of the day, it’s fitting that NC State punched its ticket to the 2021 ACC Championship game with a win over Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets swept the Wolfpack in its first series of ACC play, part of the team’s 1-8 start before finishing the regular season 24-6. 

Following an 8-1 win over Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament semifinals Saturday, NC State will play for the league crown for the first time since 2015. 

Sam Highfill threw 6.1 solid innings, Evan Justice closed the door, J.T. Jarrett came up with another big hit and Luca Tresh and Tyler McDonough homered.

Here’s a few key takeaways from the Wolfpack’s win Saturday: 

Highfill’s strong start

Highfill got some help from his defense in the form of two double plays, but threw 6.1 good innings and ultimately gave the team what it needed before giving way to Justice. 

Highfill allowed just one run on four hits while striking out five and walking three. Highfill was particularly impressive in the early innings, retiring the first six batters he faced and retiring the side in the second inning. Highfill was able to battle in the later innings, stranding a few runners as the only run he allowed came on an RBI fielder’s choice with runners on second and third in the third inning. 

Combined with Reid Johnston’s eight-inning gem against Pitt Thursday, the Wolfpack’s starters have been excellent so far in this tournament. 

Jarrett comes through again for quick start 

After Georgia Tech starter Marquis Grissom Jr. struck out the side in the top of the first, NC State got a golden opportunity to take the lead in the top of the second, loading the bases with one out on walks for Terrell Tatum and Devonte Brown and a double just fair down the left-field line for Tresh, the first postseason base hit of his career. 

With two outs, Jarrett, the hero of Thursday’s winner over Pitt, smoked a double over Yellow Jackets third baseman Justyn Henry-Malloy’s head to clear the bases and put the Wolfpack up 3-0. 

The hallmark of this Wolfpack team is the depth of its lineup one through nine. That Jarrett, the No. 9 hitter, has the Pack’s two biggest hits of this postseason so far is fitting. Jarrett factored in all three NC State runs against Pitt Thursday, and again had the game-winning hit Saturday night. 

Luca Tresh’s big day

Coming into this game, Tresh did not have a hit in his postseason career, as he was 0 for 14 with 11 strikeouts. He started this game with two, helping set the table for Jarrett’s big hit. He then put the Pack up 4-1 to lead off the fourth inning with a towering solo shot to left. 

If NC State is going to capture the ACC title and make a deep run in this postseason, getting Tresh’s bat going would be a big boost. 

Close call in the sixth

With a runner on second and the Pack up 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Georgia Tech’s Kevin Parada appeared to cut the lead to 4-3 with a two-run homer to left. However, a review showed that the ball went foul, and the Pack headed to the final three innings up 4-1. 

Evan Justice shuts the door, Pack gets some insurance

With a runner on first and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Elliott Avent called in Justice for an eight-out save. The Wolfpack’s closer needed just two pitches to get the first two of those outs, as the Wolfpack’s infield defense, which was phenomenal all game, turned its third double play. 

After Jose Torres gave NC State an insurance run with an RBI single in the top of the eighth, Justice retired the side in the eighth to bring the Pack three outs away. 

NC State pushed its lead to 6-1 in the top of the ninth as Mensik came home on a wild pitch, and then McDonough drove a two-run shot to left to give Justice a seven-run lead. It was no problem, three up and three down for Justice in the ninth. 

Overall, Justice was flawless, retiring all seven batters he faced with one strikeout for his ninth save of the season. 

On to the big one

NC State will now get a chance to add some hardware to what’s already been a strong season. The Wolfpack finished the regular season 24-6 to earn the No. 3 seed in the 2021 ACC field, and will now get a chance to play for its first ACC Championship since 1992, and the first of Avent’s 25-year career as the team’s head coach. 

NC State will face a Tobacco Road rival in pursuit of the championship, as Duke will be playing in its first ACC title game in program history tomorrow. The Wolfpack was supposed to face Duke in Durham in March, but the series was cancelled due to COVID issues in NC State’s program. 

Tomorrow’s first pitch will go at noon from Trusit Field, and the game will be carried on ESPN2.