Seeking spot in ACC baseball tournament title game, NC State faces Pitt in semifinals
N.C. State faces the other double-digit seed to sneak out of ACC pool play and into the league’s baseball tournament semifinals at Truist Field in Charlotte. No. 11 seed Pittsburgh bested No. 2 seed Louisville to advance to play the No. 10 seed Wolfpack, which beat No. 6 seed Wake Forest and No. 3 seed Miami en route to Saturday’s 5 p.m. game.
The Pack is seeking its first ACC baseball tournament title since 1992. The Panthers have never reached the ACC title game and last made the semifinals in 2018.
No. 4 seed Notre Dame clinched its spot in the semifinals on Thursday, leaving eighth seeded North Carolina’s game against No. 1 seed Virginia Tech on Friday to decide the final semifinal spot.
Here are three things to watch as the Wolfpack aim for a spot in Sunday’s championship:
Tommy White continues his tear
The ACC’s Freshman of the Year tied a league single-game record by hitting three home runs in N.C. State’s win over Miami. That moved White’s total on the season to 26 homers. The infielder tied Georgia Southern’s Todd Greene for the national record for home runs by a freshman set in 1990.
White’s now in sole possession of N.C. State’s single-season home run record, surpassing Turtle Zaun and Tracy Woodson, who previously were tied for the program record with 25 set in 1988 and 1984, respectively.
White’s not the only one. N.C. State batters have combined for 12 extra base hits, including a combined seven home runs. First baseman LuJames Groover III is 4-for-8 in two games with three RBI and two doubles.
New chance for first impression
Pitt and N.C. State didn’t face each other during the regular season this year and have only met once in the ACC tournament. Last year’s 3-2 win by the Wolfpack in pool play continued what has been a one-sided series with the Panthers. In just 14 meetings all-time, the Pack has beaten Pitt 13 times. N.C. State is hoping to extend its dominance for another game on Saturday in order to reach the ACC championship game for a second straight year.
Slump free Panthers
Pitt had lost eight of its last nine games heading into the postseason, which included a season-sweep to Georgia Tech to close the regular season. The Panthers avenged that series loss to the Yellow Jackets by beating them in pool play. They also sent Louisville, which was ranked sixth nationally in the USA Today Coaches and Baseball America top 25 polls, home with a walk-off single.
How to watch
The game will be broadcast live on the ACC Network or can be streamed here.
N.C. State vs Pitt
When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: Truist Field, Charlotte
This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 5:40 AM.