(photo courtesy of NCAA)
One win from playing for college baseball’s national title, NC State had its season rocked by COVID-19 in a whirlwind 12 hours Friday and into Saturday.
The start of the Wolfpack’s 2 p.m. game with Vanderbilt Friday was pushed back an hour after positive tests were reported, leading to NC State dressing only 13 players in its 3-1 loss to the Commodores. At about 1 a.m. local time, the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee issued a statement that declared NC State’s Saturday game with Vanderbilt a “no-contest because of COVID-19 protocols.”
“The NCAA and Committee regret that NC State’s student-athletes and coaching staff will not be able to continue in the championship in which they earned the right to participate. Because of privacy issues, we cannot provide further details,” the statement concluded.
According to multiple reports, two Wolfpack players tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in another 14 players sitting out Friday’s game. According to D-I Baseball’s Aaron Fitt, four more players who were vaccinated and played in Friday’s game, also tested positive in later tests.
“This is a heartbreaking situation, and I’m gutted for everyone involved and for all those that were captivated by the heart and fight of this team,” Wolfpack coach Elliott Avent said in a statement. “Our medical staff and our players have been incredible this season with all they’ve done to keep us safe and get us ready to play, day in and day out. I love this team and the past month, many people that got to watch them, fell in love with them as well. Although we’re all heartbroken, this team will never be forgotten and will live in the hearts of Wolfpack and baseball fans forever.”
Unless other COVID-19 protocols are disrupted, Vanderbilt advances to play in the College World Series championship series against the winner of Saturday’s game between Texas and Mississippi State.