Pack 9 Make Razorbacks Squeal, Cardiac Cavs Stylishly Late To Party

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Jim Quist @ACCTheQ –

After an ugly first game in the best of three series the Pack 9 revealed themselves to be world class pigstickers. NC State put No. 1 Arkansas on the spit and are enjoying some Carolina pulled pork (choose your style) winning the second and third games in the series. To top it off they pulled off the improbable on the Razorbacks home turf in Fayetteville. The Wolfpack advance from Super Regional play into the College World Series (CWS). They’ll be joined by another ACC team in Virginia that can only be appropriately called, the ‘Cardiac Cavs’ who knocked off Dallas Baptist to return to the CWS for the first time since winning it all in 2015.

Bracket 1 of the CWS features unseeded NC State, No. 4 Vanderbilt, No. 5 Arizona and No. 9 Stanford. Bracket 2 has unseeded Virginia, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Tennessee and one spot left for the winner of the final game between No. 7 Mississippi State and No. 10 Notre Dame. That deciding best 2 out of 3 matchup is tonight (Monday, June 14) at 7:00pm E and will be carried on ESPN2.

It’s the second time in 53 years that the Pack 9 will head to the CWS. You might say it took a wake-up call in game one where Arkansas blasted NC State 21-2 to help turn things around. Whether it was talent, sheer determination or a taste of revenge, the only thing that matters now is that NC State is on the way to Omaha, not the Razorbacks.

Pack 9

Arkansas took the lead in the second inning off their DH’s double that sent a runner across home plate. Charlie Welch’s shot put the Razorbacks on the board as Christian Franklin came in. It didn’t take long for NC State to answer and take the lead when Jonny Butler cranked out a center-field home run putting two on the big board for the Wolfpack.

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The Razorbacks tied it up 2-all with a home run shot by Cayden Wallace following a lengthy offensive dry spell in the game. With just three outs left for Arkansas it was NC State’s turn to lock it up and throw away the key in game three. Jose Torres notched run 3 for the Wolfpack to make it 3-2 in the top of 9th. His shot to left-field ended the game for Arkansas ace Kevin Kopps. The Pack 9 held off the top seed and locked in their spot in Bracket 1 of the CWS

Count Virginia Out At Your Own Peril

Earning their title, ‘Cardiac Cavs’ took it to the last innings of Game 3 of their Super Regional before locking in a win. A never say die Dallas Baptist (DBU) would not go silently into the night. The pitcher’s dual paired with aggressive fielding held both teams in check until the third inning.

DBU’s Jackson Glenn took his shot on a full count and sent the ball whistling over the left-field fence to give his team a 2-0 lead in the third inning. The home run also brought in his Patriot’s teammate River Town.

Virginia’s Nic Kent answered with a long ball over the center-field fence to bring the Cavaliers within a run, 2-1.

Things remained relatively quiet for both teams as they struggled to get players around the bags into home. Virginia managed just five hits through six innings but as has been the case throughout post-season play the picture was about to change.

Jake Gelof began the seventh inning with a single shot that go the ball rolling for Virginia. He was joined on base by his brother Zack, who was walked and then Max Cotier had a well placed single to load the bases. What happened next was an unbelievable grand slam by Kyle Teel over center field that ended the offensive efforts of both teams. Virginia went up, 5-2 and held behind the pitching of reliever Matt Wyatt.

College World Series

What’s next? If Notre Dame polishes off Mississippi State in the evening game there will be three ACC teams headed to the CWS.

No. 9 Stanford vs NC State and No. 5 Arizona vs No. 4 Vanderbilt in Bracket 1.

No. 2 Texas vs ? (No. 7 Mississippi State or No. 10 Notre Dame) and Virginia vs No. 3 Tennessee in Bracket 2.

Saturday, June 19	2 p.m.	ESPN	TBD vs. TBD	Game 1
	7 p.m.	ESPNU	TBD vs. TBD	Game 2
Sunday, June 20	2 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	Game 3
	7 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	Game 4
Monday, June 21	2 p.m.	ESPNU	TBD vs. TBD	Game 5
	7 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	Game 6
Tuesday, June 22	2 p.m.	ESPNU	TBD vs. TBD	Game 7
	7 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	Game 8
Wednesday, June 23	7 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	Game 9
Thursday, June 24	7 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	Game 10
Friday, June 25	2 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	Game 11
	7 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	Game 12
Saturday, June 26	2 p.m.	ESPN	TBD vs. TBD	Game 13 (if necessary)
	7 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	Game 14 (if necessary)
Monday, June 28	7 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	CWS Finals Game 1
Tuesday, June 29	7 p.m.	ESPN	TBD vs. TBD	CWS Finals Game 2
Wednesday, June 30	7 p.m.	ESPN2	TBD vs. TBD	CWS Finals Game 3 (if necessary)