Chop Chat
Fansided

FSU Baseball: 3 keys to beating NC State for third time

By Kelvin Hunt

Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of a bag of baseballs before the start of the game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Vanderbilt Commodores during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of the away jersey of the Vanderbilt Commodores and the home jersey of the Virginia Cavaliers before the start of game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of a bag of baseballs before the start of the game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Vanderbilt Commodores during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of the away jersey of the Vanderbilt Commodores and the home jersey of the Virginia Cavaliers before the start of game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

FSU baseball looks to best NC State for third time and reach ACC Championship Semi-finals.

It looks like FSU baseball may have recaptured the magic they found last year en route to its improbably ACC Baseball Tournament win.

The Noles have won several games of late in extra inning walk-off fashion, including its last outing against Virginia.

Two of those extra inning walk-off wins came against NC State who the Noles will face Friday night at 6 p.m. ET.

All three of the previous games have been tough against NC State and could have gone either way. However, the Wolfpack dropped a game Thursday against Virginia by score of 4-2.

Keys To Victory

  • Pitching
  • Defense
  • Cash in on scoring opportunities

It’s as simple as that ladies and gentlemen as there is no secret to winning baseball games. The Noles have to get solid pitching and the defense has to be good behind that pitching.

The FSU offense isn’t good enough to give away outs to opposing offenses. The Noles only bat .267 as a team, but get on base nearly 40 percent of the time which is great.

It must take advantage of NC State pitchers putting runners on base via the walk too. On the flip side, FSU pitchers did a great of not issuing tons of walks against NC State in the previous three game series.

As my grandfather used to say, “those walks will kill you.”

When FSU baseball gets runners on base they have to cash in on those opportunities as they have left too many runners on base for the second year in a row. They leave an average of nearly nine runners on base per game.

Thoughts

The Noles may have a psychological edge with its two walk-off wins against NC State. Not to mention NC State losing to Virginia who the Noles just beat Tuesday.

Next: FSU Extends 40 win streak to 41 consecutive years

However, NC State is no joke and of the best teams in the ACC that FSU will have to play mistake free for a good shot at advancing in the tournament.

Those that wish to watch the game can find a stream of it here.

Home/FSU Baseball