Finding dynamite in the bottom of the eighth, NC State doubled the run total from the first seven innings to spring ahead over Princeton 6-4.
In its first home series of the season, NC State (4-0) found itself in the middle of a pitching duel with Princeton (0-1), with the well of runs running dry through seven innings, both pitching staffs giving up just one earned run apiece. But soon enough the Pack struck an aquifer. With sophomore center fielder Ty Head on third, senior right fielder Brayden Fraasman knocked a go-ahead single in what felt like a ‘next run wins’ situation. Then, senior first baseman Dalton Bargo shut the door with a three-RBI bomb over the right field fence.
The first #BargoBomb at the Doak!💣 pic.twitter.com/hSs71WAgS6
— NC State Baseball (@NCStateBaseball) February 20, 2026
“We played well in the clutch down the stretch,” said head coach Elliott Avent. “But I wish we could have played a little bit earlier and maybe had a few more quality at bats.”
The Wolfpack’s ace in junior lefty Ryan Marohn got the start and delivered a solid performance, giving up one earned run in five innings with eight strikeouts. But Princeton’s pitching staff was up to the challenge, forcing the Pack’s bullpen to step up — and that, it did.
Two young relievers took the mound for the red-and-white, with massive 6-foot-5, 250-pound freshman Aiden Kitchings throwing two clean innings, and sophomore Collins Black closing it out for the win with six strikeouts. Both gave up just one hit, although Black’s was a two run-shot in the ninth to cut the lead in half, but he hung on to keep NC State in front till the end.
“I just brushed it off,” Black said. “My guys gave me such a good cushion, so I was able to take it on the chin and go on.”
Despite the youth of his relievers, Avent did not hesitate, even after Black gave up the home run.
“You hope it grows them up fast, so that’s what you gotta do,” Avent said. “ … This is a game when the lights are on and it’s a different ball game, but [Black] knows he’s got good stuff and he did a good job.”
For Kitchings, the game was a little more special, as he made his first appearance in front of the Wolfpack faithful after growing up around campus as the son of former NC State running backs coach Des Kitchings, who spent eight seasons with the Pack.
“I grew up here, going to camps here, so finally getting the opportunity to come out here and play was a blessing,” Kitchings said.
Before the team’s explosion in the eighth, it needed to tie things up in the fifth, down 2-1. Junior designated hitter Chris McHugh got it done with a 403-foot solo shot into the left field bullpen, his first homer of the season, to put the Pack in position to jump ahead.
From there, gridlock ensued until Head’s leadoff walk and stolen bag in the eighth. McHugh moved him to third on a grounder and put the Pack in prime position to take the lead. After junior second baseman Luke Nixon was intentionally walked, Fraasman took the lead for the Pack with a clutch single.
To ice the game, Bargo struck gold with his 384-foot two-run homer during the bottom of the eighth. This diamond in the rough out of four stagnant innings helped propel NC State to a comfortable 6-4 lead over the Tigers, ultimately sealing the game for the Wolfpack. Bargo’s first home run at Doak Field and third of the season added to his revelatory kickstart with his new team.
“It was awesome,” Bargo said. “I love playing with these guys … it’s just going out there and playing baseball everyday and having the same mindset. Just being around this group of guys makes it really easy to have a lot of fun.”
The Pack will have more chances to have fun tomorrow as it plays a doubleheader to finish off its series versus Princeton. The first game will start at noon and the second will begin at 3 p.m. Listen on 88.1 WKNC.
