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Who’s the Pack playing?
Opponent: UNC-Greensboro
Mascot: Dudes in skirts with mohawks | School Location: Greensboro, NC | Conference: Southern
2021 Record: 2-1 (0-0, T-1st) | 2020 RPI Rank: 86
2020 Record: 12-4 (0-0, T-1st) | 2019 RPI Rank: 72
2019 Record: 34-20 (14-10, T-2nd) | 2018 RPI Rank: 88
When? Where? How do I watch?
Location: Doak Field at Dail Park (Raleigh, NC)
Game Time(s): Tuesday, Feb 23 @ 3:00pm
TV: ACCNX
Radio: TuneIn App, GoPack
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Tell me about this team
J.T. Jarrett’s dad took off from Greensboro after the 2020 season and the Spartans replaced him with former ECU head coach Billy Godwin. Jarrett was an assistant at ECU under Godwin for four seasons (2006-2009), which correlated with the most successful point of Godwin’s Pirates tenure.
After such a short 2020 season, it’s hard to tell how different the program will be under Godwin, but UNCG did show well early a year ago notching wins over Virginia Tech, San Diego State, and Charlotte. The four losses were to Coastal Carolina, Wake Forest, Appalachian State, and UNC. One thing that has carried over to this year is an aggressiveness on the base paths. The Spartans have already attempted 13 stolen bases (10 successful) in three games.
UNCG loses their top hitter from a year ago in 3B Caleb Webster as well as CF Jacquez Koonce, but does return rJR LF Greg Hardison, rFR RF Pres Cavenaugh, and rSO SS Zack Budzik. rSO 2B Hogan Windish also returns after a down 2020 season, but had a solid 2019 campaign (.289/.347/.481, 6 2B, 6 HR, 11-16 SB) and was the 2020 Coastal Plains League MVP. The catcher position should be a strength with rJR C Spencer Smith, an ECU transfer by way of Harford JUCO, and rSO Dallas Callahan, a Coastal Carolina transfer by way of Brunswick JUCO.
The pitching staff showed a lot of promise in 2020 and return seven combined starts between rSO RHP Austin Koehn, rJR RHP Phillip Sanderson, and rJR RHP Alex Hoppe, but the team does lose Jake Lewis and Jeremiah Triplett, who combined for eight starts. UNCW transfer rSO RHP Brody Lawson (he actually started the game vs NC State last year) is sure to play a key role on the pitching staff. The bullpen will be a bit of a question mark, but does have rJR RHP Austin Parsley returning, who put up a great 2020 after a dismal 2019 season, as well as rSR LHP Jack Voigt, who has great stuff but horrendous control.
Who’s on the mound for these guys?
Tuesday: RHP Brendan Collins (rSO)
Key Players:
Offense
OF Greg Hardison (rJR) - .338/.413/.451, 8 2B, 13 R, 7 RBI, 9 BB, 9 K in 2020. Had a 14-game hitting streak in 2020 and so far has a hit in each game of this year. Gap power and effective with the bat.
OF Pres Cavenaugh (rFR) - .452/.500/.548, 2 2B, 1 3B, 11 R, 7 RBI, 6 BB, 3 K, 7-7 SB in 2020. Off to a great start to this year continuing his great 2020 campaign. Advanced hitter.
SS Zack Budzik (rSO) - .263/.419/.368, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 12 R, 8 RBI, 12 BB, 22 K, 12-13 SB in 2020. Small speedster who is already 4-4 on SB this year. Not an overly patient hitter and is prone to a lot of strikeouts, but still dangerous with the bat.
2B Hogan Windish (rSO) - .217/.364/.383, 4 2B, 2 HR, 11 R, 11 RBI, 8 BB, 7 HBP, 13 K in 2020. Last year seemed like a blip, so I wouldn’t put too much stock in the numbers. Has some real power.
OF Corey Rosier (rSO) - .250/.400/.500, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K this year. One of three transfers on the team from Chipola JUCO. An on-base machine of a left-handed hitter with a good eye at the plate.
Pitching
RHP Brendan Collins (rSO) - JUCO transfer who started his career at Radford and showed great stuff in his brief time at Brunswick CC last year and again this past summer in the Old North State League, but his control is questionable.
RHP Alex Hoppe (rJR) - 2-1, 1 SV, 4.82 ERA, 18.2 IP, 22 H, 7 BB, 24 K. Started Friday’s game, so we won’t see him.
RHP Austin Koehn (rSO) - 1-0, 1.04 ERA, 17.1 IP, 15 H, 4 BB, 19 K. Started Saturday’s game, so we won’t see him.
RHP Phillip Sanderson (rJR) - 2-1, 1 SV, 2.35 ERA, 15.1 IP, 20 H, 7 BB, 12 K. Returning weekend starter from a year ago. Did not pitch this past weekend.
RHP Brody Lawson (rSO) - 0-1, 5.63 ERA, 8.0 IP, 10 H, 3 BB, 8 K at UNCW in 2020. Did not pitch in the opening series vs Elon.
RHP Austin Parsley (rJR) - 3-0, 1.74 ERA, 20.2 IP, 9 H, 8 BB, 19 K. Did not pitch in the opening series vs Elon.
LHP Jack Voigt (rSR) - 1-0, 5.91 ERA, 10.2 IP, 13 H, 9 BB, 11 K. Threw three innings in relief on Sunday in earning the win, so doubtful we see him Tuesday.
Quick! Fun Facts!
The two teams haven’t played since the 2017 season. NC State has won 5 of the 6 meetings between the two since the beginning of the 2015 season.
The ECU connection for the UNCG program is strong. In addition to the coaching connections with Jarrett and Godwin, as well as former ECU player Spencer Smith, four UNCG players played their high school ball in Greenville.
The team also has four transfers from Brunswick CC.
Prediction
NC State will be putting Chris Villaman on the mound for his 2021 debut. He looked good a season ago, but was never stretched out in any one game. It’ll be interesting to see what the plan is tomorrow for the Pack pitching staff.
Collins on the mound for UNCG is a bit of a wildcard, but State’s lineup features a lot of patient, contact-oriented bats. That should be the difference.
Outcome: Nobody has the big inning, but State manages to pull away for the win.