Making his first appearance as the Saturday starter for No. 17 NC State baseball, junior righty Jacob Dudan showed how much he’s grown since this time last year.
The Wolfpack (2-0) didn’t take long to pull ahead of the Sycamores (1-1) as it posted five runs in the second, burying Indiana State early in the contest and going on to win 10-4. Senior first baseman Dalton Bargo got things started with a solo shot — already his second homer this season — and shortly after, an RBI-single from junior left fielder Chris McHugh gave Dudan plenty of room to work.
Dudan, who was crowned as the preseason No. 1 reliever by D1Baseball before his sophomore season, did not live up to expectations in February and March of 2025. But over the course of that season, he returned to solid form. In year three, he looks to keep climbing, but this time as a starter. With a new fastball-heavy pitch mix while still utilizing his slider, he got off to a strong start, throwing five shutout innings and giving up just two hits.
Dudan wasn’t the only player in a new position as McHugh moved to the outfield from first base. At the plate, he showed why he belongs at the top of the lineup going 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Taking his place at first, the utility man Bargo joined McHugh going 2-for-5 including that towering 407-foot homerun. Senior right fielder Brayden Fraasman went a step further with a 3-for-5 mark at the plate.
That group contributed to the bulk of the Pack’s 12 hits, but the whole lineup showed signs of life. Everyone in the starting lineup apart from sophomore center fielder Ty Head recorded a hit, but Head still earned his keep, working two walks and an RBI.
Manning the hot corner was JMU transfer senior third baseman Wyatt Peifer, taking the place of junior Sherman Johnson, who manned the position the day prior in the Pack’s win versus Washington. Most positions in the field have fairly clear starters for the Pack, but third base is not one of them. Sherman went 2-for-3 versus Washington with a double, compared to Peifer’s 1-for-4 against Indiana State. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if a player takes the reins and earns the full-time gig.
Also looking good at the plate was junior designated hitter Andrew Wiggins, who smacked an RBI-double in the third and earned two walks. Some were surprised to see Wiggins in the DH spot rather than playing in left field as a speedster, but McHugh has started both games in left, opening up first base for Bargo.
With its final game in Puerto Rico being cancelled due to weather, NC State travels back to Raleigh as it takes Doak Field for the first time this season on Wednesday, Feb. 18 to face Winthrop. First pitch against the Eagles is set for 3 p.m. Listen on WKNC 88.1.
