WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Strong pitching gets Wolfpack shot at Super Regionals

By Bob Holliday

Jun 3, 2008

N.C. State's top batting average is .332, and the Wolfpack averages fewer than six runs per game. Yet State, with a record of 40-20 is just two wins away from a trip to the College World Series.

Many of the top teams do their most important work in the batting cage. At N.C. State, it's the bullpen that stands out. Pitching has carried this team all year long.

"Pitching's definitely a strong point,” said Clayton Shunick, a junior right-hander. “This team is built around pitching."

"Our mentality starting in January was that we're going to win 56 games 2-1," pitching coach Tom Holliday said.

In fact, the Wolfpack practiced Tuesday because of a 2-1 win over South Carolina. State's staff believes Holliday has played a major role in all that has transpired this season:

"I think he gets us to trust our pitches,” junior right-hander Joey Cutler said. “He gives us the confidence to not worry about things on the mound, just throw it."

"Pitching's a lot of mental factors,” Shunick said. “He has helped us to focus on those and to learn from each situation."

Georgia brings a team batting average of .306. The Dawgs have cracked 85 home runs. But the Red and Black has not seen a staff as deep as State's:

"We do have some good arms on this team. This is a strong staff, and there's not a lot of difference from one to the next,” Holliday said. “You can go down our full 13 pitchers and there's not a lot of drop-off."

And there's the old adage that while good hitting wins games, good pitching wins championshipss.