DUGOUT REPORT: Seventh-Ranked Wolfpack Sweeps Purple Aces
No. 7 NC State head coach Elliott Avent, left-handed pitcher David Harrison, and second baseman J.T. Jarrett met with the media following the Wolfpack's 7-0 win over Evansville Sunday afternoon.
Harrison threw six shutout innings on the mound against the Purple Aces, striking out four batters while only allowing four hits and two walks en route to the win. Jarrett had a perfect showing at the plate, going 4-for-4 with one run scored and one run batted in.
NOTE: Click on each respective thumbnail to watch each press conference in the player above. A transcript of Avent’s comments is posted below.
On getting the opening-weekend sweep…
It’s really good because I think that’s a good team. You have to understand: they’re coming from up north with some disadvantages, one like a 10-hour bus ride. I think they had some bus trouble, so they got here a little late and didn’t get to work out Thursday night much. To go from turf to dirt, I thought they played outstanding, and if they stay together and have some good fortune, I think that’s a team that could do well in a tough league. I think that’s a very competitive team and a very good team to open up with. I thought we played well on Friday, like I talked about. Saturday, I didn’t think we played very good. We could’ve very easily been talking about a loss. Today, I thought we played good.
On Harrison’s performance…
Extremely impressed. Not only extremely impressed, I’m extremely happy. I thought how he handled last year with what transpired showed the maturity and the levelheadedness. I’m very happy with how he came back, and he worked for that. He’s worked harder than he’s ever worked, and I’m very pleased with David Harrison.
On the strong performances from the bullpen this weekend, especially with Garrett Payne and Justin Lawson Sunday afternoon…
It’s very good because we’re searching for a bullpen. I don’t think any team is going to be very good without a bullpen. In our time here, we’ve managed to have a very good bullpen. It’s been part of the story of our success. This year, we have to develop one, and we’re looking at a lot of guys, but nobody’s really been there and done it except for Chris Villaman. We’re looking to figure that out. We thought Garrett Payne and Lawson threw very, very well.
On if he wants to keep Devonte Brown in the leadoff role…
Well, we’re looking for a leadoff hitter. A leadoff hitter is vitally important. We’ve got a lot of guys who could play that role. Payton Green’s going to be a great leadoff hitter whether it’s this year or sometime later. J.T. Jarrett can handle that role very, very well. We had a couple of guys last year like Jonny Butler, Austin Murr who ended up getting it, and Tyler McDonough… We had a lot of options last year, but this year, we’re kind of searching to see who it’s going to be. Devonte is just a good player. He’s steady. He knows who he is, and he’s been around the block, so to speak. We’re looking at that right now. As you play preseason, and this isn’t preseason since these games count, but as you play before you open conference play, you’re trying to figure out where the pieces fit. You’ll probably see some maneuvering going on with a lot of situations, but for right now, [Brown] is in that spot.
On the women’s basketball team’s ACC regular season title…
I’m happy for everybody. I texted Wes [Moore] this morning and told him to have fun today because he’s a guy that’s so intense, and he’s always prepared and never overlooks everyone. He said it looked like they were going to clinch it today, and I told him to have some fun. I texted [NC State wrestling head coach] Pat Popolizio because he’s got that big match tonight after that big win Friday night that clinched the conference for him. I either said it on [ACC Network’s] “Packer & Durham” or [WCMC-FM’s] “The OG” the other day how a lot of good things are going on here at NC State. It’s an exciting time. I saw someone tweet out something about Terry Gannon and his role in the Olympics because he’s one of the top broadcasters, but he was also a heck of a basketball and baseball player at NC State in kind of a golden time for athletics in that era. It seems like a lot of things are coming into place right now. I’m very happy for Wes. I’m very happy for those ladies. They deserve it. They’re fun to watch. I hardly missed any games that they played, and I love to watch them play. They play together well. They play the way you’re supposed to play. Wes is a heck of a coach. He’s just a coach. He’s a good coach. He can be very successful coaching the ladies to what he’s doing or come out here and coach this baseball team. He’s just a ball coach. He’s a good one.
On the potential starting pitchers for Tuesday and Wednesday against High Point and Longwood, respectively…
On Tuesday, we’re going with Logan Adams. That’s as far as we’ve figured it out.