2026 NC State Wolfpack baseball team

2026 NC State Wolfpack baseball team
Seasons

The 2026 NC State Wolfpack baseball team represents North Carolina State University in the 2026 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Wolfpack play their home games at Doak Field under 30th-year head coach Elliott Avent. They compete as members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The Wolfpack entered the season coming off an appearance in the 2024 College World Series and a regional final appearance in 2025. Following a regular season marked by major pitching injuries and shifting roster adjustments, NC State finished the regular season 32–21 overall and 14–16 in ACC play. They capped off their regular season with a crucial 7–2 victory over No. 2 rival North Carolina to cement the No. 9 seed in the ACC Tournament.[1]

Preseason

In the preseason, NC State was highly regarded by national publications, checking in at No. 17 in the initial D1Baseball rankings.[2] The season marked the historic 30th year at the helm for head coach Elliott Avent, who signed an extension in 2020 running through the 2026 campaign.[1]

Roster

2026 NC State Wolfpack roster
# Player Position Bats/Throws Class Hometown High School / Previous School
0Luke NixonINFL/RJr.Wilmington, NCNew Hanover HS
1Rett JohnsonOFL/RFr.Youngsville, NCEast Carolina Academy
2Mikey RyanINFR/RSo.Luling, LARummel HS
3Christian SerranoINFR/RFr.Fuquay-Varina, NCPro5 Baseball Academy
5Sherman JohnsonINF/CR/RJr.Loganville, GALoganville HS
6Dalton BargoUTLL/RSr.Omaha, NEWestside HS
7Brayden FraasmanOFR/RSr.Okeana, OHRoss HS
8Ryder GarinoRHPR/RSo.Cherry Hill, NJCherry Hill West HS
10Truitt ManuelRHPR/RR-Fr.Fletcher, NCWest Henderson HS
11Preston BonnCL/RR-Fr.Lawrenceville, GABrookwood HS
13Andrew WigginsOFL/RJr.Indianapolis, INHeritage Christian HS
14Ty HeadOFL/RSo.Windermere, FLWindermere HS
15Drew LanphereCR/RJr.Donelson, TNDonelson Christian Academy
16Collins BlackRHPR/RSo.Charlotte, NCMyers Park HS
17Sam HarrisRHPR/RFr.Cary, NCBroughton HS
18Wyatt PeiferINFR/RSr.Boyertown, PABoyertown Area HS
19Heath AndrewsRHPR/RJr.Raleigh, NCSporting Goods Academy
20Ryan MarohnLHPL/LJr.Chantilly, VAFreedom HS
22Luke HemricLHPR/LFr.Apex, NCApex Friendship HS
23Vincent DeCarloCR/RFr.Tampa, FLJesuite HS
24Devin MitchellOFR/RJr.Edmond, OKEdmond Santa Fe HS
25Danny HeintzRHPR/RGr.Cary, NCGreen Hope HS
27Chris McHughINFR/RJr.Enfield, NYCommack HS
28Cooper ConsiglioLHPL/LJr.Palm Harbor, FLIMG Academy
29Julien PeisselRHPR/RR-Jr.Hickory, NCSaint Stephens HS
30Mikey RagusaRHPR/RFr.Coral Springs, FLCardinal Gibbons HS
33Kaden MorrisRHPR/RR-Fr.Fayetteville, NCCape Fear HS
34Anderson NanceRHPR/RSo.Eden, NCJohn M. Morehead HS
36Jacob SmithRHPR/RFr.Winston-Salem, NCReagan HS
38Landon CarrRHPR/RR-Jr.Waxhaw, NCCuthbertson HS
41Jacob DudanRHPL/RJr.Huntersville, NCLake Norman Charter
47Aiden KitchingsRHPR/RFr.Braselton, GARabun Gap Nacoochee
50Brandon NovyINFR/RSo.Holly Springs, NCPro5 Baseball Academy
99Tristan PottsLHPL/LSo.Waxhaw, NCCuthbertson HS

Coaching Staff

Name Position Seasion at NC State Alma Mater
Elliott AventHead coach30thNC State (1978)
Chris HartAssociate Head Coach22ndFlorida State (2003)
Clint ChryslerPitching Coach8thStetson (2009)
Bo RobinsonAssistant Coach5thCharlotte (1998)

[3]

Season Overview

The 2026 campaign tested the Wolfpack's depth due to critical injuries across their pitching staff. Early in the conference schedule, the team lost both components of their elite weekend starting rotation—junior right-hander Jacob Dudan and junior left-hander Ryan Marohn—forcing head coach Elliott Avent to rely heavily on a highly active contingent of true freshmen relievers.[4]

Despite these setbacks, individual standouts anchored the lineup. Outfielder Rett Johnson, infielder Luke Nixon, catcher/infielder Sherman Johnson, and outfielder Ty Head guided the offense through structural challenges. Sherman Johnson proved particularly dynamic down the final stretch, launching five home runs across the final seven regular season matchups.[1]

Key moments of the regular season highlighted the team's high ceiling. The Wolfpack claimed an early marquee victory on March 3, defeating No. 16 Coastal Carolina 6–4.[5] They also achieved a decisive season sweep over in-state rival East Carolina, culminating in an abbreviated 12–2, eight-inning run-rule victory in Raleigh on April 28.[4]

In conference play, NC State opened their series against No. 11 Florida State with a 6–4 victory before dropping the final two contests. They faced additional hardship during a series sweep at the hands of No. 3 Georgia Tech and an ankle injury to starting shortstop Mikey Ryan during a weekend series against Virginia Tech, which opened opportunities for true freshman Christian Serrano.[4][5]

Entering the regular season finale against archrival and No. 2 ranked North Carolina, the Wolfpack sat firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble. After dropping the opening two games at Doak Field, NC State secured an emphatic 7–2 win in the Saturday finale. Driven by back-to-back home runs from Sherman Johnson and Chris McHugh, the victory solidified the program's postseason credentials and earned them the No. 9 seed in the conference tournament.[1]

Schedule and results

2026 NC State Wolfpack game log
Regular season (32–21)
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
city, state
March 3
 No. 16 Coastal Carolina* W 6–4  {{{record}}}
 Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 
{{{site_cityst}}}
March 13
 Boston College W 4–2  {{{record}}}
 Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 
{{{site_cityst}}}
Mid-April
 No. 11 Florida State W 6–4  {{{record}}}
 Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 
{{{site_cityst}}}
April 28
 East Carolina* W 12–2 (8)  {{{record}}}
 Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 
{{{site_cityst}}}
May 14
 No. 2 North Carolina Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 
{{{site_cityst}}}
May 15
 No. 2 North Carolina Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 
{{{site_cityst}}}
May 16
 No. 2 North Carolina W 7–2  {{{record}}}
 Doak Field • Raleigh, NC 
{{{site_cityst}}}
Postseason
May 19
 vs. No. 16 (No. 8 seed) Duke Truist Field • Charlotte, NC 
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*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

[6]

Awards and Honors

All-ACC Teams

Following the conclusion of the regular season, four members of the Wolfpack earned all-ACC honors:

  • Rett Johnson (Fr., OF)
  • Luke Nixon (Jr., INF)
  • Sherman Johnson (Jr., INF)
  • Ty Head (So., OF)[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Smith, R. Cory (May 17, 2026). "NC State manager Elliott Avent on potential 2027 return: 'I don't know what the future holds'". 247Sports. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  2. ↑ Tyler, Travis (January 18, 2026). "NC State Baseball Coach Reaches Milestone Season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  3. ↑ "2026 Baseball Roster". GoPack.com. NC State University Athletics. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Sennett, Tucker (April 29, 2026). "Elliott Avent Breaks Down NC State Baseball's Latest Win Over ECU". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  5. 1 2 "NC State and UNC Prepare for In-State Showdown in Regular Season Finale". GoPack.com. NC State University Athletics. May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  6. ↑ "NC State Cements Nine Seed in ACC Tournament, Will Play Duke on Tuesday". GoPack.com. NC State University Athletics. May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Four NC State baseball players named to All-ACC Teams for 2026 season". 247Sports. May 18, 2026. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
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