‘It’s a special, special place’: NC State is back for CWS for the first time since 2021

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - For the first time since 2021 the Wolfpack is back in the Men’s College World Series. Tenth-ranked NC State was the last team to punch their tickets to Omaha, beating Georgia in winner-take-all game three in the Athens Super Regional.

“If you’re a baseball player, baseball coach, anybody associated with college baseball, whatever you want to call this place-- Shangri-La, land of Oz, wherever your most special place in the world is for you-- that’s what this place is for us. It’s just a special, special place,” said NC State head baseball coach Elliott Avent.

The Wolfpack begin their quest for the program’s first national title on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Kentucky. The last time NC State was in the College World Series, they were one win away from making it the CWS finals for the first time in history. Because of COVID-19 protocols, the Wolfpack had to forfeit the game and Vanderbilt advanced to the championship series where the Commodores eventually lost, 2-1, to Mississippi State.

“There’s a lot of people associated with 21 [back] and yes, we’re all still very bitter about that,” said Avent on the events that led to NC State being forced to forfeit. “I don’t believe in revenge, personally. I don’t think it gets you anywhere in life. It actually probably gets you worse off.”

6 Sports will have more from NC State’s batting practice on Thursday.

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