Two hard-fought games sandwiched a blowout win as NC State took two-of-three from Princeton this weekend. The Wolfpack now stand at 5-1 on the year while the Tigers are 1-2.
Princeton, coming off a horrid 2025 campaign, looks poised for a stronger 2026 campaign behind a pitching staff that looked much improved. Aside from the 16-1 thrashing the Tigers took in Game 2, the other two games saw the Wolfpack plate just six total runs. Obviously, the other side of that is a cause for concern for Pack fans;
it’s never a good look to see your offense struggle to plate runs off a team that posted a 6.92 ERA the prior year.
The upside for State is that the Pack allowed just six runs in three games to a squad that was expected to again struggle to produce runs. They did what they were supposed to do, and that’s a solid sign.
Game 1 saw Princeton jump out to a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning while State’s offense struggled to get much of anything going. The Pack’s first run came in the bottom of the 3rd inning thanks to some aggressive base running by Ty Head. The sophomore centerfielder reached on a single, advanced to second on a Chris McHugh groundout when he was running on the pitch. Head then moved to third base on an errant pickoff attempt by the pitcher, and eventually scored on a Luke Nixon strikeout, breaking for home on the catcher’s throw to first base after strike three was in the dirt.
State tied things up in the 5th inning on a 2-out McHugh blast to center field, his first home run of the season.
The game stayed locked at 2-2 until the Pack blew things open in the 8th inning. Head walked to lead the frame and against used some smart and aggressive base running to advance, stealing second base and moving to third on a McHugh groundout to shortstop. After Nixon was intentionally walked, Fraasman brought home Head on a single through the left side of the infield.
Four pitches later, Dalton Bargo put a ball into the NC State bullpen for a 6-2 Wolfpack lead.
That Bargo bomb was huge as Princeton would notch a 2-run homer of in 9th off the bat of Tommy Googins, making it a 2-run game. Thankfully that was all the damage done and the Pack would take home the 6-4 win.
Eight of ten Wolfpack hitters who stepped to the plate in the game registered a hit, while State out-hit Princeton in the game by a 9-to-6 mark. Bargo (2-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI) was the lone Pack batter with multiple hits in the game, while Head (1-for-3, 2 R, BB, 1-1 SB), Nixon (1-for-3, 2B, R, BB), and Wyatt Peifer (1-for-1, BB) all reached base safely multiple times.
On the bump, Pack hurlers registered 17 strikeouts in the game against just 6 hits, 4 walks, and 2 HBP. Ryan Marohn (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP) was sharp at both ends of his appearance, but worked through trouble in the middle three innings. Aiden Kitchings (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP) impressed again in his second appearance in red and white, while Collins Black (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) earned the win in his Wolfpack debut.
Game 2 of the series – the first game of a Saturday doubleheader – was an absolute thrashing administered by the Wolfpack. State batters used a combination of patience at the dish while pummeling pitches on the way to a 16-1 win, with the State coming one out away from registering their second shutout of the season.
Do you want to know the play-by-play… or do you want to see the Pack sock a few dingers?!
McHugh (3-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, HBP, 1-1 SB), Nixon (2-for-4, 2 R, HBP, 3-for-3 SB), Rett Johnson (2-for-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI), and Peifer (2-for-3, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1-1 SB) all had multiple hit games. Head (1-for-1, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB, SF, 1-1 SB), Bargo (1-for-1, R, RBI, BB, SF), and Brandon Novy (1-for-4, 2B, R, BB) also reached base safely multiple times.
The big takeaway in the game was the second straight strong start by Jacob Dudan, with this effort being even better than his season debut last weekend against Indiana State. The junior didn’t allow a baserunner until a 2-out infield single in the 5th inning. He would allow two runners in the 7th inning on a soft looper into shallow left field and another infield single, but that was all the Princeton bats could muster against him as he was in complete control of the game the entire time he was on the mound. Dudan’s final line in improving to 2-0 on the year: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K. He needed just 87 pitches.
Danny Heintz made his Wolfpack debut in the 8th, setting down all three batters he faced, including one via strikeout. Landon Carr made his season debut and just his second career appearance for State, pitching a wobbly 9th inning. Carr issued three walks and plunked a batter to allow the Tigers to score their lone run of the game with two outs. He didn’t allow a hit and struck out two, displaying his potential when he can locate pitches.
The series finale was similar in the first two in that Princeton again struggled to muster much offense against NC State pitching, but was dramatically different in that Wolfpack hitters couldn’t push a single run across the plate. The end result was a 1-0 defeat for State, with the lone Tiger run coming courtesy of a 6th inning leadoff home run from Isaac Lamson.
That Princeton home run broke up what was a no-hitter from State starter Cooper Consiglio. Despite being saddled with the loss, Consiglio was sharp in the outing, with a final line of 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. For a pitcher who struggled with command over his first two seasons, especially last year, it was promising to see the junior lefty command the strike zone and keep hitters off balance over his 74-pitch outing. The effort should keep Consiglio in the Sunday starter spot for at least one more weekend, keeping Heath Andrews in line to start either Tuesday against Richmond or Wednesday against Akron.
Ryder Garino made his Wolfpack debut relieving Consiglio with one on and no out in the 6th. The New Jersey native retired seven of the eight hitters he faced, with the lone man to reach base doing so via a fielding error. Garino’s line: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
Truitt Manuel pitched the final two innings for State in his second outing. The redshirt freshman looked fantastic, sitting 94-to-96 with his fastball, bumping 97 mph on several occasions. He retired all six batters he faced, including three via strikeout.
A pair of Princeton freshman arms kept Pack hitters off-balance all afternoon. Brady Kaufman (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K) earned the win while Ryan Penney (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K) notched the save. State only had a handful of opportunities, with the best opportunities coming in the 3rd and 9th innings. The Pack had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out in the 3rd, but Nixon struck out swinging to end the inning. Head doubled to lead off the 9th, but Nixon flied out followed by strikeouts from Fraasman and Bargo to end the inning and the game.
Head (2-for-4, 2B, 1-1 SB) accounted for half of State’s baserunners in the game.
After the midweek tilts against Richmond (Tuesday, 3:00pm) and Akron (Wednesday, 3:00pm), Sacred Heart (1-5) will come to Raleigh for a three-game series.
