No. 13 NC State baseball came through in the eighth inning on the back of a two-run bomb from junior first baseman Chris McHugh to take down No. 16 Coastal Carolina.
With McHugh coming up clutch late, NC State earned its best win of the season in a 6-4 victory over the Chanticleers. The game gave the Pack its first chance to test itself against quality competition and the red-and-white delivered.
McHugh had already gone yard earlier in the first inning, but an intense back-and-forth seven frames separated the Wolfpack (11-1) from that point. It came to a head as the Chanticleers (7-5) leveled up the score 4-4 in the top of the eighth as NC State’s bullpen could not keep Coastal’s offense at bay. Luckily for the Pack, an offense which put up 90 runs in the previous five games against lesser competition showed up versus bigger dogs.
There is power, then there is CHRIS MCHUGH POWER! pic.twitter.com/h0PBzd7szh
— NC State Baseball (@NCStateBaseball) March 3, 2026
“There was a lot of emotion coming into this game, with this being the best team we’ve played this year,” McHugh said. “… Right when I saw the hanging breaking ball, I literally felt something inside me, and I just got so excited.”
With the bats heating up, NC State needed a closer on the mound to hold the Chanticleers at bay. Redshirt freshman pitcher Truitt Manuel lasted just seven pitches into the eighth and the Pack turned to sophomore pitcher Collins Black.
“My guys gave me the lead, they gave me the cushion,” Black said. “I just wanted to go out there and close with the win, so anyway anyhow.”
The evening started off shaky for Black. Inheriting a runner on first, Black couldn’t keep Coastal Carolina from tying the game off a single. However, Black bounced back unfazed and struck out Trace Mazon.
Collins Black strand them.
We head to the bottom of the eighth tied. pic.twitter.com/kxh8SmQcfu
— NC State Baseball (@NCStateBaseball) March 3, 2026
Avent elected to keep Black on the mound to close — a decision that Black rewarded with his best inning of the season. The righty gave up nothing easy, forcing the Chanticleers to swing at tough pitches. The result ended in a flyout, a strikeout and a groundout as Black showed impressive control under pressure.
“I don’t really think Collins gave up the lead,” Avent said. “I think he actually saved the game. He gets the win, but for me, this is a save for him.”
With the win, NC State banks its first ranked victory of the season. Runners up in last year’s College World Series, Coastal Carolina is consistently one of the nation’s top programs. The win gives the Wolfpack’s resume credibility after collecting wins over weaker competition and marks the Pack’s first real test.
“It did have an April, May feel to it,” Avent said. “Real proud of the guys cause obviously anyone can beat you in college baseball … That’s what I was proud of our plays cause it’s more about us right now early in the season than it is about the opponent.”
The Wolfpack makes a quick turnaround, hosting Queens on Wednesday, March 4 at 3 p.m. Streaming will be available via ACC Network Extra, and on the Radio on 88.1 WKNC.
