RALEIGH — In a matchup between ranked opponents, No. 16 Coastal Carolina and No. 13 NC State threw punches at one another like it was a heavyweight boxing match. The Wolfpack eventually jumped in front, but the Chanticleers had an answer, tying the game in the top of the eighth inning. It all came down to one clutch moment from the hero of the day.
First baseman Chris McHugh smashed a home run in the first inning to tie the game, but his big opportunity came with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. With the game tied at four apiece, one swing of the bat from McHugh put the Wolfpack up 6-4, as he smashed another homer over the left-field fence. He hit his fifth and sixth homers in the victory for the Pack.
Wolfpack lineup and stats
Made a STATEment. pic.twitter.com/x7saioPflM
— NC State Baseball (@NCStateBaseball) March 3, 2026
- CF Ty Head: 1-4, K
- 1B Chris McHugh: 2-4, 3 R, 2 HR (6), 3 RBI, BB
- 2B Luke Nixon: 3-5, RBI, R
- 3B Sherman Johnson: 1-3, R, BB
- RF Brayden Fraasman: 3-5, 2 RBI
- DH Andrew Wiggins: 0-2, 2 BB
- SS Mikey Ryan: 1-3, BB
- C Drew Lanphere: 0-3, R, BB
- LF Rett Johnson: 1-4
RHP Heath Andrews: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 KRHP Anderson Nance: 2 IP, 3 KRHP Truitt Manuel: H, 2 R, 2 ER, BBRHP Collins Black: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K
What happened in the game?
Heath is ready to go! pic.twitter.com/FX5NxmVI6K
— NC State Baseball (@NCStateBaseball) March 3, 2026
The two squads traded solo home runs early in the game. Coastal left fielder Blagen Pado hammered one off Andrews in the top of the first, but the Wolfpack offense had a response right away. McHugh worked the count in his favor and then took Case Bosch deep. After that, things fell into a bit of a stalemate, as both pitchers cruised for a few innings.
The Chanticleers finally broke the tie in the fifth inning with a base hit to right field, bringing one run across the plate. NC State had its chances throughout the prior few innings, but couldn’t make anything happen. After five innings of two-run ball from Andrews, the Wolfpack turned to Nance, who carved through the Coastal order for two innings…