NC State Gets Another Opportunity At Finishing College World Series On Its Own Terms After 2021 Covid Debacle

The last time North Carolina State took to the field in Omaha at the College World Series it was taking a team photo around home-plate as the team headed home to Raleigh after being eliminated following a loss to Vanderbilt, and then the NCAA. 

But if you remember the circumstances surrounding that loss to Vanderbilt, you would understand why NC State clinching its spot in the 2024 CWS is a chance at redemption after COVID ruined the 2021 season. 

As the world was still caught up in the pandemic, college sports tried to navigate around the problem during that year's postseason event. There were protocols in-place, with players and coaches that were not vaccinated needing to be tested every other day at the event. And let's be honest, nobody wanted to make that decision to end the season for NC State. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, there was at least one player that tested positive earlier for COVID in the week, which triggered contact-tracing protocols. 

This led to North Carolina State having to play Vanderbilt with just 13 players on the active roster. The Wolfpack had already beaten Stanford and Vanderbilt in their opening games, and were playing the Commodores again for a berth in the championship series. 

Following the loss, the entire NC State baseball team and those in the travel party were administered PCR tests. While Texas and Mississippi State battled it out late into the night thanks to a rain delay, the test results for the Wolfpack came back. 

Jun 21, 2021; Omaha, Nebraska, USA;  NC State Wolfpack players cheer late game action against the Vanderbilt Commodores at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

NC State Season Ends, One Win Away From Title Series

Unfortunately for NC State, the 3-1 loss to Vandy was the last time they would take the field to compete in the College World Series that season. Needing only one more win, in the third game against Vandy, the NCAA pulled the plug on the postseason run after more positive tests came back from earlier in the night, leaving the team heartbroken at what had transpired. 

"The NCAA and the 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."

Unfortunately, NC State had further players test positive, even when some of them were vaccinated, but the damage was done. Since it had played with 13 vaccinated players in the second game against Vanderbilt, once there were positive tests among that group, all hell broke loose. 

Following conversations with the local health board and the NCAA, an announcement was made at 1:10 a.m CT that declared the Wolfpack's season over. 

The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee decided that the game against Vanderbilt would be ruled a no-contest, and the Commodores would move on to the championship series, leaving NC State players heartbroken by the decision. 

About 45 minutes after the decision was made, North Carolina State players arrived at TD Ameritrade Park, without telling the NCAA, and took one last photo in Omaha together, soaking in the eventful situation, preparing to head back to Raleigh. 

Now, North Carolina State Looking For Redemption In 2024

It's been what feels like 10 years since that final moment in Omaha for North Carolina State, and it came full circle on Monday night in Athens, Georgia. After the Super Regional was tied 1-1, the Wolfpack had one more shot at securing another bid to the College World Series. 

Thanks to a barrage of home runs, the Wolfpack defeated Georgia 8-5, securing a spot in the 2024 College World Series that is set to begin on Friday afternoon. 

As we know, college baseball is such a toss-up when you get to this point in the season, but it was almost as if the baseball gods were looking down on NC State last night. Four years after their last trip to Omaha, the Wolfpack players stormed the field in celebration following the final out. A massive dog-pile ensued and a return trip to the College World Series was secured. 

It might not be the same team, or players participating, but four years later North Carolina State has another shot at a title. 

Jun 25, 2021; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; NC State Wolfpack players observe the National Anthem prior to the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

For everything that went wrong in 2021, this is a shot at redemption. NC State now has the opportunity to go out its own way, not at the hands of a testing protocol. 

North Carolina State head coach Elliot Avent summed it up in the perfect way Monday night, knowing the last time the players were on the field in Omaha was for a group photo that ended their season. 

"I’m proud of this ball club and I wanted them to go so bad. There’s nothing like walking on that field at Omaha, Nebraska."

Who knows how this College World Series will play out, but NC State gets another shot at finishing its story, on its own terms.