NC State goes out with a whimper in 9-2 loss to East Carolina

NC State’s baseball season ended with a truly impressive level of abruptness this weekend, there’s no doubting that. Pretty hard thing to do, when you think on it. But here we are. The Wolfpack went 0-for-Greenville and was eliminated by East Carolina on Sunday afternoon.

The Pirates falling into the loser’s bracket ended up being a nice break that State could have, perhaps, thought about maybe taking advantage of, but this State team has been trash for a couple weeks now.

Patrick Bailey gave NC State the early lead on a solo shot in the first inning, and the Pack held that margin into the third, when everything fell apart. ECU got six runs in the frame, and that was more than enough cushion for Pirates starter Jake Agnos, who was dealing. Agnos pitched eight full innings, striking out nine while allowing only four hits.

ECU tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth, though none were necessary. The only offense State mustered the rest of the way was an Even Edwards solo homer in the ninth, with the game well decided already.

Will Wilson was again notably absent, and he’ll head off to the majors now with the sour taste of going hitless in the NCAA tournament. The millions he’ll be due later this month should help in the recovery, though.

In the final accounting, NC State’s lineup wasn’t nearly as fearsome as it looked during the incredible first month of the year and I’m not surprised that it caught up with them. I am surprised that it did so quickly. So it goes.