How many CWS appearances does Elliott Avent have? NC State HC's career explored
Elliott Avent has achieved great success with the NC State Wolfpack since taking over as the program's head coach in 1997. Currently in his 28th season at the helm of NC State's baseball program, the 68-year-old has grown the team into one of the strongest in the ACC.
The Wolfpack's appearance in the ongoing College World Series sees Avent make his third appearance in NCAA Baseball's season-ending tournament. His first appearance was in 2013, after the Wolfpack won the Raleigh Super Regional.
They stunned the tournament's top seed, the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first round. However, this was followed up by losses to UCLA and the Tar Heels in the second round and they were eliminated from the tournament.
Their second appearance came eight years later in the 2021 College World Series, after stunning the postseason's top seed, the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Fayetteville Super Regional.
However, their journey in Omaha came to a bitter end. Since several players contracted the COVID-19 virus, they could not field a team to face the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second game of their best-of-three semi-final. They had already lost 3-1 in the series opener, and were thus eliminated.
Can Elliott Avent finally clinch the College World Series this year?
Avent will be hoping that the third time's the charm for himself and the Wolfpack, who are making their fourth overall appearance in the tournament. This is the first time the Wolfpack will be taking part in the College World Series as a seeded team. They earned the 10th national seed due to their incredible regular season.
The 68-year-old has led six NCAA Regionals and three NCAA Super Regionals. However, he has never won the College World Series. Their journey in Omaha did not get off to the ideal start, losing to the 2nd national seed, the Kentucky Wildcats, 5-4 in the tournament opener.
This defeat sent them to the elimination bracket of bracket 2. They will face the Florida Gators, the only unseeded team in Omaha, following their narrow 3-2 defeat to the Texas A&M Aggies.
This is a do-or-die game for both teams, with the loser seeing their dreams of winning the College World Series meet its bitter end.