The inconsistent Aggies come to town as State’s final game before ACC play starts
NC State is set to take on North Carolina A&T on Tuesday night at 6:00pm in Raleigh. The game will be broadcast on the ACCNX online. Live stats here.
The Aggies are off to a rough 3-10 start to the year, but that’s partly due to a decently tough schedule. Four of their losses have come at the hands of ACC teams Clemson (x2), North Carolina, and Duke.
Only the Blue Devils were able to run-rule A&T, while the Aggies trailed by three or fewer runs in the 8th inning of both losses to Clemson, as well as the loss to UNC. This is a tougher and feistier group than the record would lead you to believe.
As a collective group, A&T is hitting .253/.349/.403 with 25 2B, 9 HR, a 9.6 BB%, 21.6 K%, and is 17-of-24 on stolen bases. FR C/3B Tyler Smith (.340/.431/.560, 3 2B, 2 HR, 13.8 BB%, 19.0 K%, 1-4 SB), SR 3B/DH A.J. Jones (.298/.421/.489, 4 2B, 1 HR, 12.3 BB%, 14.0 K%, 3-4 SB), and rFR 2B J.T. Taylor (.302/.380/.558, 2 2B, 1 HR, 10.0 BB%, 22.0 K%, 1-1 SB) have been the leaders at the plate. As you’d expect, those three sit atop the batting order.
Those are serviceable numbers, but the lineup has had its share of dry spells, being held to four or fewer runs in seven games this year, including in three of their last four games. Defensive woes have also reared their head at times with six multi-error games, including three games with four or more errors.
Miscues in the field can be problematic enough, but they’re exacerbated with a pitching staff that holds an overall 7.93 ERA with a 14.0 BB% vs 15.6 K%. There have certainly been some bright spots (the 2-4 loss at Clemson, an 8-1 win over Marist), but the group has generally suffered from control issues outside of the starting rotation. Removing the weekend rotation, Aggies relief pitchers have a 17.9 BB% and 14.1 K%.
Of that reliever group, former NC State transfer SR RHP Jacob Halford (0-2, 7.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 11.8 BB%, 19.6 K%) is among the best arms, as is SR RHP Diego Barrett (0-0, 1.35 ERA, 6.2 IP, 16.1 BB%, 22.6 K%) and JR RHP Grayson King (0-1, 5.06 ERA, 5.1 IP, 7.7 BB%, 15.4 K%).
If the pitching comes along, this is a team that could make some noise in the CAA this year, but they’re going to need to get more consistency and depth from the starting rotation and find some more reliable relievers along the way if they’re going to make it happen.