| NC State Wolfpack baseball | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1903 |
| University | North Carolina State University |
| Athletic director | Boo Corrigan |
| Head coach | Chris Hart (1st season) |
| Conference | ACC Atlantic Division |
| Location | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Home stadium | Doak Field (capacity: 3,000) |
| Nickname | Wolfpack |
| Colors | Redย andย white[1] ย ย ย |
| College World Series appearances | |
| 1968, 2013, 2021, 2024 | |
| NCAA regional champions | |
| 2003, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2021, 2024 | |
| NCAA tournament appearances | |
| 1968, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 | |
| Conference tournament champions | |
| 1973, 1974, 1975, 1992 | |
| Conference regular season champions | |
| 1968, 1975, 1981, 1986 | |
The NC State Wolfpack baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of North Carolina State University, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The team has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since the conference's founding in the 1954 season. The program's home venue is Doak Field, which opened in 1966. Longtime assistant coach Chris Hart will take over as head coach in 2027 following the retirment of Elliott Avent, who has been the head coach of the team since prior to the 1997 season. As of the end of 2025 world series, the Wolfpack have appeared in four College World Series and 35 NCAA tournaments. They have won four ACC tournament Championships and four ACC Regular season Championships. As of the 2021 Major League Baseball season, 47 former Wolfpack players have played in Major League Baseball.
History
editThe baseball program played its first official game against Guilford College in 1894.[2] The program began varsity play in 1903, playing at Riddick Stadium, and in 1907 won its first State Championship.[3] The program competed in each season until 1914, when the program was discontinued for three seasons (1914โ1916) before being revived prior to the 1917 season.[3]
The team's nickname was the "Farmers" until autumn 1921, when an alumnus complained that the behavior of some of the school's football players was "as unruly as a pack of wolves." Subsequently, newspapers began referring to the school's athletic teams as the "Wolfpack."[4]
The program's current venue, Doak Field, opened in 1966.[5]
NC State made its first College World Series appearance in 1968, in the second season of head coach Sammy Esposito's tenure. In the World Series, the team lost in the semifinals to eventual champion USC.[6] Since the NCAA tournament's format was changed in 1999 to include the Super Regional round, NC State has appeared in five Super Regionals, losing to Miami in 2003, Georgia in 2008, and Florida in 2012, beating Rice in 2013, and Arkansas in 2021.[7][8][9]
The Wolfpack have hosted five NCAA Regionals, one at Wilson, North Carolina's Fleming Stadium (in 2003) and four at Doak Field (in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016).[9][10]
Conference affiliations
edit- Independent โ 1903โ1913, 1917โ1921
- Southern Conference โ 1922โ1953
- Atlantic Coast Conference โ 1954โpresent
2021 College World Series
editNC State was put into the Ruston Regional as a 2 seed where they cruised right on through not losing a single game. They then moved on to face the #1 team in the country, the Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas destroyed NC State game one 21-2. The Wolfpack then bounced back to win the next two games (each by one run).
The Wolfpack went into Omaha and faced off against the 9 seeded Stanford Cardinal. NC State breezed by Stanford, winning 10-4. They moved on to face the 4 seeded Vanderbilt Commodores. The Wolfpack went in facing the top pitcher in the country, Jack Leiter. NC State would only score off a home run by Terrell Tatum. That proved to be all they needed as they won 1-0, despite Leiter striking out 15 batters in 8 innings. Then they faced the Commodores again in the next matchup where they lost 3-1. However, before they could play the elimination game, many of the NC State players contracted the COVID-19 virus. They did not have enough players to field a team of baseball players, so they had to forfeit the game. That ended their magical postseason run and hopes of winning the program's first ever national title.
Venues
editRiddick Stadium
editPrior to 1966, the team played at Riddick Stadium, which was also home to the NC State football program.[11][12]
Doak Field
editThe Wolfpack's home venue is Doak Field, which opened in 1966 and has a capacity of 3,000 spectators. The field is named for Charles Doak, who was the program's head coach from 1924 to 1939.[5]
Head coaches
editThe program's most successful head coach was Sammy Esposito. Esposito coached teams to four ACC regular season championships, three ACC tournament championships, and one College World Series appearance in his 21-year tenure.
Current head coach Elliot Avent is the program's leader in total career victories at NC State, with 1,069 as of July 31, 2025. Avent became the program's winningest coach on May 9, 2010, in a 21โ0 NC State win over Towson. The win was Avent's 514th, putting him past Sammy Esposito on the program's career wins list.[13][14]
Coach Avent is also the program's longest tenured head coach, with 30 seasons in the position. Vic Sorrell and Sammy Esposito each served as head coach for 21 seasons.[3]
|
Yearly record
editWolfpack Baseball Yearly record
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent (1903โ1913) | |||||||||
| 1903 | C. D. Welch | 10โ3 | |||||||
| 1904 | C. D. Welch | 10โ12 | |||||||
| 1905 | M. J. Kittredge | 10โ5 | |||||||
| 1906 | M. J. Kittredge | 6โ7 | |||||||
| 1907 | Win Clark | 14โ8 | State Champions[17] | ||||||
| 1908 | Frank Thompson | 21โ4 | |||||||
| 1909 | Frank Thompson | 16โ8โ1 | |||||||
| 1910 | Frank Thompson | 15โ1โ3 | |||||||
| 1911 | Frank Thompson | 18โ3 | |||||||
| 1912 | Edward Green | 13โ6โ1 | |||||||
| 1913 | Fred Anderson | 6โ0โ0 | |||||||
| No program (1914โ1916) | |||||||||
| Independent (1917โ1921) | |||||||||
| 1917 | Harry Hartsell | 5โ8 | |||||||
| 1918 | Harry Hartsell | 11โ5โ1 | |||||||
| 1919 | Tal Stafford | 12โ11 | |||||||
| 1920 | Bill Fetzer | 14โ6 | |||||||
| 1921 | Harry Hartsell | 10โ10โ2 | |||||||
| Independent: | 191-97-8 | ||||||||
| Southern Conference (1922โ1953) | |||||||||
| 1922 | Harry Hartsell | 13โ7 | |||||||
| 1923 | Harry Hartsell | 13โ7โ1 | |||||||
| 1924 | Charles Doak | 18โ4 | |||||||
| 1925 | Charles Doak | 14โ4 | |||||||
| 1926 | Charles Doak | 7โ13 | |||||||
| 1927 | Charles Doak | 2โ10 | |||||||
| 1928 | Charles Doak | 12โ6 | |||||||
| 1929 | Charles Doak | 9โ9 | |||||||
| 1930 | Charles Doak | 8โ10โ1 | |||||||
| 1931 | Charles Doak | 11โ8 | |||||||
| 1932 | Charles Doak | 7โ6โ2 | |||||||
| 1933 | Charles Doak | 9โ4 | |||||||
| 1934 | Charles Doak | 9โ11โ1 | |||||||
| 1935 | Charles Doak | 10โ9 | |||||||
| 1936 | Charles Doak | 11โ8 | |||||||
| 1937 | Charles Doak | 7โ12 | |||||||
| 1938 | Charles Doak | 8โ7โ2 | |||||||
| 1939 | Charles Doak | 5โ8 | |||||||
| 1940 | Williams Newton | 3โ9 | |||||||
| 1941 | Williams Newton | 3โ10 | |||||||
| 1942 | Williams Newton | 6โ9 | |||||||
| 1943 | Williams Newton | 3โ10 | |||||||
| 1944 | Williams Newton | 1โ12 | |||||||
| 1945 | Beattie Feathers | 7โ6 | |||||||
| 1946 | Vic Sorrell | 11โ4 | |||||||
| 1947 | Vic Sorrell | 9โ13 | |||||||
| 1948 | Vic Sorrell | 8โ13โ1 | |||||||
| 1949 | Vic Sorrell | 8โ12 | |||||||
| 1950 | Vic Sorrell | 16โ9 | |||||||
| 1951 | Vic Sorrell | 10โ10 | |||||||
| 1952 | Vic Sorrell | 15โ10 | |||||||
| 1953 | Vic Sorrell | 11โ9 | |||||||
| Southern: | 284-279-8 | ||||||||
| Atlantic Coast Conference (1954โpresent) | |||||||||
| 1954 | Vic Sorrell | 8โ8 | 8โ6 | 3rd | |||||
| 1955 | Vic Sorrell | 13โ4 | 12โ3 | 2nd | |||||
| 1956 | Vic Sorrell | 14โ5โ1 | 11โ4 | 2nd | |||||
| 1957 | Vic Sorrell | 8โ10 | 7โ7 | 4th | |||||
| 1958 | Vic Sorrell | 10โ7 | 6โ7 | 5th | |||||
| 1959 | Vic Sorrell | 8โ12 | 5โ9 | 8th | |||||
| 1960 | Vic Sorrell | 12โ8 | 9โ5 | 3rd | |||||
| 1961 | Vic Sorrell | 13โ5 | 8โ5 | 4th | |||||
| 1962 | Vic Sorrell | 11โ10 | 8โ6 | tโ3rd | |||||
| 1963 | Vic Sorrell | 9โ10 | 4โ10 | 7th | |||||
| 1964 | Vic Sorrell | 8โ15 | 4โ9 | 7th | |||||
| 1965 | Vic Sorrell | 10โ10โ1 | 6โ8 | tโ5th | |||||
| 1966 | Vic Sorrell | 11โ12โ2 | 7โ7 | tโ3rd | |||||
| 1967 | Sammy Esposito | 11โ11 | 6โ7 | 5th | |||||
| 1968 | Sammy Esposito | 25โ9 | 13โ4 | 1st | College World Series | ||||
| 1969 | Sammy Esposito | 17โ11 | 9โ9 | 4th | |||||
| 1970 | Sammy Esposito | 21โ10 | 13โ8 | 3rd | |||||
| 1971 | Sammy Esposito | 18โ11โ1 | 9โ5 | 3rd | |||||
| 1972 | Sammy Esposito | 19โ13 | 7โ8 | 4th | |||||
| 1973 | Sammy Esposito | 23โ10โ1 | 9โ3 | 2nd | District 3 Regionals | ||||
| 1974 | Sammy Esposito | 22โ10 | 7โ5 | 3rd | District 3 Regionals | ||||
| 1975 | Sammy Esposito | 27โ7 | 10โ2 | tโ1st | Atlantic Regional | ||||
| 1976 | Sammy Esposito | 20โ12 | 6โ6 | 4th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1977 | Sammy Esposito | 27โ12 | 5โ5 | tโ4th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1978 | Sammy Esposito | 23โ16 | 5โ7 | 5th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1979 | Sammy Esposito | 23โ13 | 3โ9 | 6th | |||||
| 1980 | Sammy Esposito | 21โ12 | 7โ6 | 4th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1981 | Sammy Esposito | 33โ12 | 10โ4 | tโ1st | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1982 | Sammy Esposito | 24โ14 | 7โ7 | 4th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1983 | Sammy Esposito | 23โ13โ1 | 9โ4 | 2nd | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1984 | Sammy Esposito | 32โ8 | 9โ3 | 3rd | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1985 | Sammy Esposito | 29โ16 | 8โ5 | 4th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1986 | Sammy Esposito | 35โ15 | 11โ2 | 1st | South II Regional | ||||
| 1987 | Sammy Esposito | 39โ16 | 12โ8 | 4th | Mideast Regional | ||||
| 1988 | Ray Tanner | 45โ16 | 13โ6 | 2nd | East Regional | ||||
| 1989 | Ray Tanner | 35โ21โ2 | 10โ10 | 4th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1990 | Ray Tanner | 48โ20 | 14โ7 | 3rd | Atlantic Regional | ||||
| 1991 | Ray Tanner | 48โ20 | 11โ10 | 3rd | East Regional | ||||
| 1992 | Ray Tanner | 46โ18 | 15โ9 | 3rd | Atlantic Regional | ||||
| 1993 | Ray Tanner | 49โ17 | 15โ7 | 2nd | Midwest Regional | ||||
| 1994 | Ray Tanner | 46โ18โ1 | 13โ11 | 5th | Mideast Regional | ||||
| 1995 | Ray Tanner | 36โ24 | 14โ14 | 6th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 1996 | Ray Tanner | 42โ19 | 14โ13 | tโ3rd | East Regional | ||||
| 1997 | Elliott Avent | 43โ20 | 15โ8 | 3rd | South II Regional | ||||
| 1998 | Elliott Avent | 41โ23 | 12โ9 | 4th | West Regional | ||||
| 1999 | Elliott Avent | 37โ25 | 11โ13 | 6th | Auburn Regional | ||||
| 2000 | Elliott Avent | 30โ28 | 10โ14 | tโ6th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 2001 | Elliott Avent | 32โ28 | 9โ15 | tโ7th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 2002 | Elliott Avent | 33โ26 | 7โ17 | 7th | ACC tournament | ||||
| 2003 | Elliott Avent | 45โ18 | 15โ9 | tโ3rd | Coral Gables Super Regional | ||||
| 2004 | Elliott Avent | 36โ24 | 11โ12 | 6th | Coral Gables Regional | ||||
| 2005 | Elliott Avent | 41โ19 | 17โ13 | 6th | Lincoln Regional | ||||
| 2006 | Elliott Avent | 40โ23 | 16โ13 | tโ2nd (Atlantic) | Austin Regional | ||||
| 2007 | Elliott Avent | 38โ23 | 16โ14 | 3rd (Atlantic) | Columbia, SC Regional | ||||
| 2008 | Elliott Avent | 42โ22 | 18โ11 | 2nd (Atlantic) | Athens Super Regional | ||||
| 2009 | Elliott Avent | 25โ31 | 10โ20 | tโ4th (Atlantic) | |||||
| 2010 | Elliott Avent | 38โ24 | 15โ15 | 3rd (Atlantic) | Myrtle Beach Regional | ||||
| 2011 | Elliott Avent | 35โ27 | 15โ15 | tโ3rd (Atlantic) | Columbia Regional | ||||
| 2012 | Elliott Avent | 43โ20 | 19โ11 | 2nd (Atlantic) | Gainesville Super Regional | ||||
| 2013 | Elliott Avent | 50โ16 | 19โ10 | 2nd (Atlantic) | College World Series | ||||
| 2014 | Elliott Avent | 32โ23 | 13โ17 | 5th (Atlantic) | ACC tournament | ||||
| 2015 | Elliott Avent | 36โ22 | 15โ14 | 5th (Atlantic) | Fort Worth Regional | ||||
| 2016 | Elliott Avent | 36โ22 | 15โ14 | 3rd (Atlantic) | Raleigh Regional | ||||
| 2017 | Elliott Avent | 36โ25 | 16โ14 | 4th (Atlantic) | Lexington Regional | ||||
| 2018 | Elliott Avent | 42โ18 | 19โ11 | 3rd (Atlantic) | Raleigh Regional | ||||
| 2019 | Elliott Avent | 42โ19 | 18โ12 | t-3rd (Atlantic) | Greenville Regional | ||||
| 2020 | Elliott Avent | 14โ3 | 1โ2 | t-8th (Atlantic) | Canceled for Covid-19 | ||||
| 2021 | Elliott Avent | 37โ18 | 19โ14 | 3rd Atlantic) | College World Series | ||||
| 2022 | Elliott Avent | 36โ21 | 14โ15 | 5th (Atlantic) | |||||
| 2023 | Elliott Avent | 36โ21 | 13โ16 | 5th (Atlantic) | Columbia Regional | ||||
| 2024 | Elliott Avent | 38โ21 | 18โ11 | 2nd (Atlantic) | College World Series | ||||
| ACC: | 2,078โ1,150โ10 | 739โ606 | |||||||
| Total: | 2,589โ1,556โ27 | ||||||||
|
ย ย ย ย ย ย National championย ย
ย ย ย ย ย ย Postseason invitational championย ย
| |||||||||
Individual awards
editNational awards
edit- Trea Turner (2014)
Richard W. "Dick" Case Award
- Carlos Rodon (2013)
Conference awards
editACC Baseball Player of the Year
- Chris Cammack (1969)
- Mike Caldwell (baseball) (1971)
- Tracy Woodson (1984)
- Turtle Zaun (1988)
ACC Baseball Coach of the Year
- Sammy Esposito (1984)
- Sammy Esposito (1986)
- Ray Tanner (1990)
- Elliott Avent (2003)
ACC Baseball Rookie of the Year
- Tom Sergio (1994)
- Carlos Rodon (2012)
- Patrick Bailey (2018)
- Tommy White (baseball) (2022)
ACC Baseball Pitcher of the Year
- Carlos Rodon (2012)
- Brian Brown (2018)
Notable players
editBelow is a list of notable players of the program and the seasons in which they played for the Wolfpack.[19]
- Patrick Bailey (2017-2020)
- Andy Barkett (1992โ1995)
- Brian Bark (1987โ1990)
- Aaron Bates (2005โ2006)
- Greg Briley (1986)
- Jimmy Brown (1932)
- Dick Burrus (1919)
- Mike Caldwell (1968โ1971)
- Doug Davis (1982โ1984)
- Joe DeBerry (1917โ1920)
- Joey Devine (2003โ2005)
- Bill Evans (1915)
- Adam Everett (1996)
- Stu Flythe (1934โ1936)
- Jeff Hartsock (1986โ1988)
- Dutch Holland (1923โ1925)
- Andrew Knizner (2014-2016)
- Johnny Lanning (1931โ1932)
- Corey Lee (1994โ1996)
- Matt Mangini (2005โ2006)
- Jim McNamara (1984โ86)
- Louie Meadows (1980โ82)
- George Murray (1918โ21)
- Chad Orvella (2002โ2003)
- Chink Outen (1927โ1928)
- Jeff Pierce (1990โ1991)
- Dan Plesac (1981โ1983)
- Buck Redfern (1921โ1924)
- Dave Robertson (1910โ1912)
- Carlos Rodon (2012โ2014)
- Tommy Smith (1972โ1974)
- Tim Stoddard (1972โ1975)
- Doug Strange (1983โ1985)
- Eric Surkamp (2006)
- Jim Toman (1981โ1984)
- Trea Turner (2012โ2014)
- Russell Wilson (2008โ2010)
- Will Wilson (2016โ2019)
- Tracy Woodson (1982โ1984)
Current MLB Roster
editFormer Wolfpack players on current MLB rosters as of August 14, 2023.[20]
| Player | Position | Number | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Bailey | C | 14 | San Francisco Giants |
| Andrew Knizner | C | 7 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Carlos Rodon | P | 16 | San Francisco Giants |
| Trea Turner | SS | 6 | Philadelphia Phillies |
Major League Baseball draft
edit2012
editIn the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, two NC State players were selected. Junior shortstop Chris Diaz was selected in the 11th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and senior outfielder Ryan Mathews was selected in the 27th round by the Oakland Athletics.[21][22] Both players signed contracts with their respective organizations.[23][24]
2014
editIn the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, two NC State players were selected in the first round. Junior pitcher Carlos Rodon was selected 3rd overall in the 1st round by the Chicago White Sox, and shortstop Trea Turner was selected 13th overall by the San Diego Padres.[25]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ NC State Athletics Brand Guide (PDF). January 11, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "University Archives Photograph Collection, Athletics Photographs, 1893-2003 NCSU Special Collections Research Center Collection Guides". www.lib.ncsu.edu. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "2012 NC State Baseball Yearbook". PackYearbooks.com. NC State Sports Information. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ^ "Welcome to Wolfpack Awareness Week". GoPack.com. October 18, 2010. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ a b "Doak Field at Dail Park". Go Pack. Archived from the original on May 18, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ^ Peeler, Tim. "The Wolfpacker Remembers 1968 College World Series". GoPack.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ Kelly, Omar (June 7, 2003). "Coral Gables Super Regional". The Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "No. 1 Florida Beats NC State". ESPN.com. June 10, 2012. Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ a b McCreary, Joedy. "Wolfpack Opens Raleigh Regional Play Friday at Doak Field". HeraldSun.com. Associated Press. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Wilson Regional Capsules". CollegeBaseballInsider.com. May 30, 2003. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ "Riddick Stadium". NCSU.edu. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ^ "Wolfpack Baseball: A History of Achievement Exhibition Highlights". North Carolina State University Libraries. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ Peeler, Tim. "Peeler: Avent Proud to Set School Mark for Wins". GoPack.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ "NC State Blasts 7 Homers to Sweep Tigers, 21-0". TowsonTigers.com. Towson Sports Information. May 9, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ Harris, C. D. (February 1907). "BASE BALL SCHEDULE 1907". Red and White. 8 (6): 281. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "The A. & M. Coach: "Win" Clark Known Throughout the Eastern States". March 16, 1907. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "University Archives Photograph Collection, Athletics Photographs, 1893-2003 | NC State University Libraries Collection Guides". Lib.ncsu.edu. February 22, 1999. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ "2012 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Media Guide". TheACC.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ^ "North Carolina State University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball-Almanac.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ^ "MLB Players Rosters - Major League Baseball - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- ^ "2012 NC State Baseball Roster". GoPack.com. NC State Sports Information. Archived from the original on June 2, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ "2012 MLB Draft by School: N-S". CollegeBaseballInsider.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ Wilmoth, Charlie (June 19, 2012). "MLB Draft Signings: Pirates Sign Adrian Sampson, Chris Diaz". SB Nation Pittsburgh. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ "A's Agree to Terms with Three from 2012 First-Year Player Draft". OaklandAthletics.com. June 16, 2012. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^ "NC State's Rodon, ECU's Hoffman go top-10 in MLB draftย :: WRALSportsFan.com".