via @NCStateBaseball/X
With 8 days remaining until the first pitch of the ACC Tournament, College Baseball Central is breaking down the biggest X-Factor for each team in Charlotte.
The North Carolina State Wolfpack currently sit at fourth overall and will be highlighted in the fourth story of our 12-part series. At the end of each new X-Factor installment, I will put a number on the level of concern each situation.
X-Factor: Pitching
As of Sunday night, the Wolfpack's cumulative ERA of 6.39 ranks ninth among the 10 teams who have already clinched their spot in Charlotte. Just one Wolfpack pitcher with a start to their name boasts an ERA better than 4.00, while no other starter currently sits below 5.00.
Freshman Ryan Marohn has shown flashes of stardom in a variety of roles and leads the team with an ERA of just 3.83 in 47.0 innings of work. On the other hand, everyday starters Sam Highfill and Dominic Fritton have struggled to find any sort of consistency. Highfill's ERA of 5.01 ranks just 15th in the ACC, while Fritton's line of 7.41 marks the 26th best ERA among the conference's 27 qualifying pitchers.
Things do not get much better when looking at the bullpen, with just two relievers boasting an ERA lower than 5.00. The other six relievers with at least 10 innings of work all boast an ERA of 5.40 or higher.
Concern Level: 7 out of 10
Pitching is essential to make a deep run in the postseason and the Wolfpack just do not have the ability to pitch at a high level in 2024. With such a shallow rotation and bullpen, a potential early exit for the Wolfpack in Charlotte should come as a shock to no one.
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