NC State’s baseball team continued what has been an extraordinary year for the school’s athletic department when it reached the 2024 College World Series.
Now in the eight-team field, the Wolfpack’s journey to a national championship will begin this weekend.
NC State will make its debut in the 2024 CWS with a game Saturday against Kentucky at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
REQUIRED READING:NC State baseball vs Kentucky prediction, odds for College World Series
The Wolfpack, the No. 10 national seed, are in the CWS for the third time since 2013 and the second time in the past four times the event was held. In its most recent appearance, NC State’s CWS experience was cut short when several of its players tested positive for COVID-19, which prevented the Wolfpack from having enough players to field a team and forcing it to forfeit an elimination game against Vanderbilt.
NC State advanced to the CWS this year after winning the Raleigh Regional and knocking off No. 7 Georgia in three games in the Athens Super Regional.
In its first game of the event, it will square off against No. 2 Kentucky, which is in the CWS for the first time in program history. The Wildcats have yet to lose this postseason, winning each of the three regional games they hosted and then notching a two-game sweep against Oregon State in the Lexington Super Regional.
The winner of the matchup will take on the winner of No. 3 Texas A&M’s game Saturday against Florida while the loser will be relegated to an elimination game in the double-elimination tournament.
Follow along for live updates and highlights from NC State’s baseball game against Kentucky in the 2024 CWS:
NC State baseball vs Kentucky score: Wildcats 1, Wolfpack 0
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| NC State | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kentucky | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
NC State baseball vs Kentucky live updates, highlights
This section will be updated closer to first pitch.
Bottom of first inning: Kentucky 1, NC State 0
2:29 p.m.: The miscue on the pick-off attempt ends up coming back to bite the Wolfpack. In the next at-bat, Nick Lopez rips a single to center field, bringing Pitre home. 1-0 Kentucky.
2:28 p.m.: A tough mistake there for Highfill, who turned to try to pick off Pitre at second, but tosses the ball over his teammate's glove, sending it into shallow center field and advancing Pitre to third. Later in the at-bat, though, he strikes out Devin Burkes for the second out.
2:26 p.m.: Emilien Pitre caps off a 12-pitch at-bat with a double to center field that it looks like Serrano misplayed for NC State. Commentators have been talking about the wind in Omaha today, which may have played a factor.
2:20 p.m.: Sam Highfill strikes out Ryan Waldschmidt looking, catching the edge of the plate. One down.
2:18 p.m.: The game is back on ESPN, for those interested.
Top of first inning: NC State 0, Kentucky 0
2:16 p.m.: The NC State threat is subdued. Brandon Butterworth flies out to right field, stranding runners on first and second.
2:13 p.m.: Jacob Cozart lines a single to right field, with Serrano advancing to second base. Wolfpack have a man in scoring position with two outs.
2:12 p.m.: On the first pitch of the at-bat, Alec Makarewicz also flies out to left. Two down for the Wolfpack.
2:11 p.m.: Garrett Pennington pops out to left field. One down for NC State.
2:10 p.m.: Eli Serrano is walked on four straight pitches to lead off the game. NC State has a man on base.
Pregame
2:08 p.m.: With the NWSL game on ESPN running long, the NC State-Kentucky game will be starting on ESPN2. Should be switching back to ESPN soon.
1:15 p.m.: Not to be outdone, NC State has its lineup out shortly after Kentucky's is posted. Wolfpack are going with Sam Highfill on the mound.
Highfill has a team-high seven wins this season, but has struggled at times across his 16 appearances, with a 5.06 ERA. He was excellent in his most recent game, though, giving up just one run and four hits across six innings in an 18-1 win against Georgia in the first game of the super regional round. It's unlikely he'll get that kind of run support today, but it offers some encouragement for NC State.
1:08 p.m.: Kentucky is out with its starting lineup. Wildcats will be starting right-hander Trey Pooser, the pitching staff's ace. Pooser is 7-1 this season with a 3.46 ERA.
12:14 p.m.: Some footage of the team leaving the hotel to head to the ballpark for today's game, with a throng of fans sending them off.
10:26 a.m.: The 2021 NC State CWS team passes along a message to the current Wolfpack squad.
What channel is NC State baseball vs Kentucky on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
NC State and Kentucky will square off in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN.
Streaming options for the matchup include the ESPN app, ESPN+ and Fubo, the last of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
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NC State baseball vs Kentucky start time
- Date: Saturday, June 15
- Time: 2 p.m. ET
First pitch between the Wolfpack and Wildcats is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
NC State baseball schedule 2024
Below is NC State’s postseason schedule. To see the Wolfpack’s full 2024 schedule, click here
Raleigh Regional
- Friday, May 31: NC State 9, Bryant 2
- Saturday, June 1: NC State 6, South Carolina 4
- Sunday, June 2: NC State 5, James Madison 3
Athens Super Regional
- Saturday, June 8: NC State 18, Georgia 1
- Sunday, June 9: Georgia 11, NC State 2
- Monday, June 10: NC State 8, Georgia 5
Kentucky baseball schedule 2024
Below is Kentucky’s postseason schedule. To see the Wildcats’ full 2024 schedule, click here
Lexington Regional
- Friday, May 31: Kentucky 10, Western Michigan 8
- Saturday, June 1: Kentucky 6, Illinois 1
- Sunday, June 2: Kentucky 5, Indiana State 0
Lexington Super Regional
- Saturday, June 8: Kentucky 10, Oregon State 0
- Sunday, June 9: Kentucky 3, Oregon State 2
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