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NC State Baseball

Takeaways: Wolfpack's bats go cold in ACC title game loss

May 30, 2021
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CHARLOTTE -- NC State picked a terrible time to be shut out for the first time this season. Following a 1-0 loss to Duke in the title game at Truist Field Sunday, the Wolfpack’s ACC Championship drought is now 29 years. Duke captured its first title of the tournament era.  

The Wolfpack’s bats could not get anything going, and NC State will now wait to see where its season will continue in the NCAA regional round next weekend. 

Here’s a few key takeaways from the Wolfpack’s loss today: 

Bats go ice cold

An NC State lineup known for its potency and depth one through nine simply could not find a way to make anything happen on Sunday. A ton of credit has to go to Duke’s pitching staff, particularly starter Cooper Stinson, who allowed just three hits and struck out six in six innings pitched. 

But NC State also had too many poor at-bats, mustering just five total hits and striking out nine times. The Pack let its few opportunities, including being gifted a runner on third in the sixth (more on that below) and a leadoff single for Jonny Butler in the ninth, go by the wayside, leaving six on base throughout the day. 

Willadsen shoves early, struggles late in short start

NC State turned to Matt Willadsen on the mound in this one, and he dealt in his early innings, retiring the first six batters he faced and striking out the side in the second as he stymied Duke’s lineup with his curveball. 

In 4.2 innings, Willadsen allowed one run on four hits while striking out six and walking one. 

Willadsen began to show signs of trouble in the third before getting some help from his fielders as Devonte Brown and J.T. Jarrett combined to nail a runner at home after a double off the wall. In the fourth, he really started to look shaky as he allowed a leadoff double. The Blue Devils only ended up getting one run on a sac fly, but Willadsen gave up hard contact against each of the first three batters. 

With two on and two outs in the top of the fifth and Duke lineup due to start a third time through, Elliott Avent elected to make a change and go with Chris Villaman. 

Villaman gives the Pack a chance 

While NC State could not find a way to get its bats going in the middle innings, Villaman gave it plenty of opportunities and kept his team in the game with an excellent long relief outing to finish the game. 

Villaman took over for Willadsen in the bottom of the fifth and threw 4.1 scoreless, hitless innings, allowing just one base runner via a walk. Villaman struck out six and displayed excellent fastball command to stymie Duke’s lineup, throwing 40 his 54 total pitches for strikes and leaving NC State one swing of the bat away after striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth. 

Missed opportunity in the sixth

Heading into the bottom of the sixth, NC State had not gotten anything going against Stinson, who was dealing with just three hits allowed and six strikeouts through five. The Pack had yet to get a runner past first base. 

The Wolfpack was essentially gifted a runner on third, as Austin Murr took first on an error, and then, on what looked like a sure double play ball from Tyler McDonough, took third with one out on an errant throw. 

It appeared Murr would score easily on a fly out to center by Jonny Butler, but left the bag early and had to go back and tag, which led to him having to stay at third on a good throw by Duke center fielder Joey Loperfido, as the Pack ended up getting nothing out of its golden chance and still trailed 1-0 through six. 

That ended up being the Wolfpack’s best opportunity of the day, and one that will likely haunt this team after a 1-0 loss. 

The drought continues

After a 24-6 finish to the regular season gave NC State the third seed in this year’s ACC Tournament, and great pitching performances sent the Pack to the title game, the Wolfpack appeared to have a golden opportunity to win the ACC Championship for the first time since 1992 and first time in Avent’s 25-year career as head coach, but it wasn’t meant to be. 

While the Wolfpack still has a chance to accomplish plenty this season, an ACC title won’t be part of it, and this will likely stand out as one of the more painful losses of the Avent era. 

NC State will now turn its attention to the NCAA regional round next weekend, and will know its seed and draw tomorrow at noon. 

Takeaways: Wolfpack's bats go cold in ACC title game loss

10,597 Views | 29 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by Packsd14me
Wolfpacklife
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3:05p, 5/30/21
Still a lot to play for. This team is solid and will be motivated. Get it together and make a run in the NCAAs!

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kbdavis33
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3:11p, 5/30/21
Hate that baseball can never seem to close the door when they get a chance.

Hope this doesn't have an impact on our CWS
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dmelvin
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3:20p, 5/30/21
Tagging up is fundamentals. Lost that run by poor judgement.
Dmelvin
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GuerrillaPack
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3:21p, 5/30/21
Turned it off when the guy couldn't even tag to score. What an effin joke.
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Wolfpacklife
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3:27p, 5/30/21
Doesn't make the tag mishap go away... but that throw was perfect. It would have been very close. No gimme
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RBTFall06
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5:17p, 5/30/21
Let your clean up hitter swing the bat in the 9th. I don't understand that decision.
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CLTWolf
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In reply to RBTFall06 • 5:24p, 5/30/21
RBTFall06 said:
Let your clean up hitter swing the bat in the 9th. I don't understand that decision.

Tatum had one hit the entire tournament and is prolly the fastest dude on either team. If he gets the bunt down, he moves the runner up and can potentially use his speed to beat out the throw unless he plays pepper with the pitcher, which is probably better than striking out.
*Wolfpack Baseball - 2021 *NCAA COLLEGE WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!
*Congrats to the 10 win 2021 Wolfpack football team!
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wilmwolf
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5:32p, 5/30/21
We've literally gone full circle. Last month people are saying that Tatum should bunt all the time with his speed and propensity for striking out. Now we're mad because they asked him to bunt. If he had just gone up there and taken three hacks like he had all game, people would be mad we didn't try to bunt.
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pack95
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In reply to wilmwolf • 5:57p, 5/30/21
wilmwolf80 said:
We've literally gone full circle. Last month people are saying that Tatum should bunt all the time with his speed and propensity for striking out. Now we're mad because they asked him to bunt. If he had just gone up there and taken three hacks like he had all game, people would be mad we didn't try to bunt.


I can see points on both sides so I'm really not hell bent that one decision was better than the other. If the bunt works it's a great call; if not, it was bad.

But damn, you like to argue with people and call folks out.
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wilmwolf
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In reply to pack95 • 5:59p, 5/30/21
pack95 said:
wilmwolf80 said:
We've literally gone full circle. Last month people are saying that Tatum should bunt all the time with his speed and propensity for striking out. Now we're mad because they asked him to bunt. If he had just gone up there and taken three hacks like he had all game, people would be mad we didn't try to bunt.


I can see points on both sides so I'm really not hell bent that one decision was better than the other. If the bunt works it's a great call; if not, it was bad.

But damn, you like to argue with people.


Who am I arguing with boss? My post wasn't directed to anyone at all, just pointing out what I see as a fallacy in the line of thinking of some folks around here.
Just a guy on the sunshine squad.
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StateFan2001's favorite poster.
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RBTFall06
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6:10p, 5/30/21
We had momentum for the first time all game. No matter how bad he had struggled in the tournament, he is still your clean up hitter. I would have preferred to stay aggressive and let him swing the bat.
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YouPeople
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6:15p, 5/30/21
Aventing
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Mountainman97
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In reply to YouPeople • 7:08p, 5/30/21
YouPeople said:
Aventing
Ofer 6. Ofer.
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pluralitus
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7:51p, 5/30/21
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JCooke93
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In reply to CLTWolf • 8:20p, 5/30/21
And Tatum is a good buntter if he gets it down who knows
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wolfpack1437
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In reply to CLTWolf • 8:26p, 5/30/21
CLTWolf said:
RBTFall06 said:
Let your clean up hitter swing the bat in the 9th. I don't understand that decision.

Tatum had one hit the entire tournament and is prolly the fastest dude on either team. If he gets the bunt down, he moves the runner up and can potentially use his speed to beat out the throw unless he plays pepper with the pitcher, which is probably better than striking out.
The bunt was the right call. Regardless, we should be straight stealing Butler when Tatum got his second strike. If he's thrown out, he's thrown out. We needed to put some pressure on the Duke pitcher and their D to make a play.
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westerj12
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8:30p, 5/30/21
26 years and not a single trophy. Not even a first place in the division. Funny how results matter in football and basketball but State fans ignore that when it comes to baseball
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Packsd14me
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In reply to wilmwolf • 8:59p, 5/30/21
wilmwolf80 said:
We've literally gone full circle. Last month people are saying that Tatum should bunt all the time with his speed and propensity for striking out. Now we're mad because they asked him to bunt. If he had just gone up there and taken three hacks like he had all game, people would be mad we didn't try to bunt.


Play to tie at home and win on the road is the old adage that most coaches follow. The bunt is in order. Tatum bunted for hits. I hoped he could lay down a good bunt and put pressure on Duke with his speed to first. He didn't do the job. Batters from he to Menshik get some of the blame today. They didn't put the ball in play much, especially not hard, all day.
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Wolfer79
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7:29a, 5/31/21
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Jtilley
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In reply to wolfpack1437 • 9:35a, 5/31/21
wolfpack1437 said:
CLTWolf said:
RBTFall06 said:
Let your clean up hitter swing the bat in the 9th. I don't understand that decision.

Tatum had one hit the entire tournament and is prolly the fastest dude on either team. If he gets the bunt down, he moves the runner up and can potentially use his speed to beat out the throw unless he plays pepper with the pitcher, which is probably better than striking out.
The bunt was the right call. Regardless, we should be straight stealing Butler when Tatum got his second strike. If he's thrown out, he's thrown out. We needed to put some pressure on the Duke pitcher and their D to make a play.
I don't agree with stealing there, if he's thrown out the game is over and he was already thrown out earlier attempting to steal.

I don't have a problem with the bunt call but its on Tatum to get the bunt down and he didn't do that.
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JCooke93
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In reply to Jtilley • 9:37a, 5/31/21
I agree 100 with you on that
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Jtilley
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9:39a, 5/31/21
I'll add I think the biggest thing that played a factor was Duke shifting on every batter. Probably the first time this year our guys have seen that consistently. Smart on Pollard for that and I am really surprised more teams aren't doing it across the board (Not just to us).
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wolfpack1437
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In reply to Jtilley • 10:48a, 5/31/21
Jtilley said:
wolfpack1437 said:
CLTWolf said:
RBTFall06 said:
Let your clean up hitter swing the bat in the 9th. I don't understand that decision.

Tatum had one hit the entire tournament and is prolly the fastest dude on either team. If he gets the bunt down, he moves the runner up and can potentially use his speed to beat out the throw unless he plays pepper with the pitcher, which is probably better than striking out.
The bunt was the right call. Regardless, we should be straight stealing Butler when Tatum got his second strike. If he's thrown out, he's thrown out. We needed to put some pressure on the Duke pitcher and their D to make a play.
I don't agree with stealing there, if he's thrown out the game is over and he was already thrown out earlier attempting to steal.

I don't have a problem with the bunt call but its on Tatum to get the bunt down and he didn't do that.
Huh? He was never thrown out attempting to steal in that game. He's only been thrown out once all year. We never tested the Duke catcher
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wilmwolf
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10:55a, 5/31/21
Butler was caught trying to steal against GT, not Duke.
Just a guy on the sunshine squad.
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ciscopack
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In reply to CLTWolf • 11:47a, 5/31/21
CLTWolf said:
RBTFall06 said:
Let your clean up hitter swing the bat in the 9th. I don't understand that decision.

Tatum had one hit the entire tournament and is prolly the fastest dude on either team. If he gets the bunt down, he moves the runner up and can potentially use his speed to beat out the throw unless he plays pepper with the pitcher, which is probably better than striking out.
If..........I've watched a little Pack baseball over the years....who teaches bunting?
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ciscopack
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In reply to JCooke93 • 11:48a, 5/31/21
JCooke93 said:
And Tatum is a good buntter if he gets it down who knows
He did not look the part but I only watch a few games.
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Jtilley
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In reply to wolfpack1437 • 12:30p, 5/31/21
wolfpack1437 said:
Jtilley said:
wolfpack1437 said:
CLTWolf said:
RBTFall06 said:
Let your clean up hitter swing the bat in the 9th. I don't understand that decision.

Tatum had one hit the entire tournament and is prolly the fastest dude on either team. If he gets the bunt down, he moves the runner up and can potentially use his speed to beat out the throw unless he plays pepper with the pitcher, which is probably better than striking out.
The bunt was the right call. Regardless, we should be straight stealing Butler when Tatum got his second strike. If he's thrown out, he's thrown out. We needed to put some pressure on the Duke pitcher and their D to make a play.
I don't agree with stealing there, if he's thrown out the game is over and he was already thrown out earlier attempting to steal.

I don't have a problem with the bunt call but its on Tatum to get the bunt down and he didn't do that.
Huh? He was never thrown out attempting to steal in that game. He's only been thrown out once all year. We never tested the Duke catcher
My fault, go it mixed up with the GT game.

I'm just not a fan of tryin to steal there when you are down to your last two outs. Hindsight is 20/20 though and Tesh still would have had to get a hit.
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Lagniappe
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In reply to dmelvin • 12:22p, 6/1/21
dmelvin said:
Tagging up is fundamentals. Lost that run by poor judgement.
What was the third base coach doing? He could have held him on the bag.
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Packsd14me
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In reply to Lagniappe • 2:29p, 6/1/21
Lagniappe said:
dmelvin said:
Tagging up is fundamentals. Lost that run by poor judgement.
What was the third base coach doing? He could have held him on the bag.
How? He was on the bag. What do you think the coach does? Murr was too anxious and started early. The coach can't touch him to hold him back, he's out from the touch. This is 100% on Murr. I doubt he feels too well today. Neither does Tatum. Mistakes are magnified in a close game and more so for a championship. Everyone sees them in baseball. They both need their teammates to pick them up, which I am sure has already happened because of the heart this team has shown all year.
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