NC State’s Jacob Dudan named D1Baseball Freshman All-American
In the Athens Super Regional Game 3, a contest in which NC State was a win away from the College World Series, Pack coach Elliott Avent turned to freshman reliever Jacob Dudan to pitch to Georgia star Charlie Condon with the bases loaded.
For most teams this season, Condon has been a nightmare. But for Dudan, an ACC All-Freshman Team selection, it wasn’t. He struck Condon out on four pitches, three sliders and a fastball up and away, to escape a jam against the eventual Golden Spikes Award winner.
The freshman’s ability to rise to the occasion led him to being named a D1Baseball First Team Freshman All-American, the outlet announced Friday morning. He was previously named to the ACC’s All-Rookie team for his efforts this season.
Dudan finished the season as the Wolfpack’s most-used pitcher with 27 appearances from the bullpen. He logged a 4-2 record with 56 strikeouts and six saves in 48 innings. Dudan was second on the team in saves, with a trio coming against ACC competition.
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The Huntersville, N.C., native impressed in the Raleigh Regional, where he appeared in two games, tossing five innings with just one run allowed on two hits to go with 10 total strikeouts. He also made an appearance at the Men’s College World Series, but conceded a run on two hits in the Wolfpack’s 5-4 loss to Kentucky in the event opener on June 5.
Dudan was an effective bullpen arm for the Wolfpack, arguably the team’s most consistent reliever and was key in the team’s deep postseason run. His elite freshman season earned the right-hander an invitation to the U.S. Collegiate National Team’s training camp in Cary, one of 56 non-draft eligible players to earn the recognition. ‘
Dudan made Team USA’s Summer League Tour roster, along with fellow reliever Cooper Consiglio and catcher Alex Sosa. Sophomore closer Derrick Smith was the Pack’s lone representative on the Collegiate National Team in the International Friendship Series against Chinese Taipei.
