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NC State’s powers up with 4 homers as they run-rule Sacred Heart 17-4 (Recap + Box Score + Highlights)

Pack Pride Staff

Published

3 months ago

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The #14 NC State Wolfpack continued their scorching offensive start to the 2026 season with a dominant 17-4 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Friday. This was the opener of a three-game weekend series, and the Wolfpack’s offense exploded for 17 runs on 13 hits, including four home runs, while the pitching staff limited Sacred Heart to just three hits.

NC State wasted no time, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Luke Nixon’s sacrifice fly scored Ty Head, followed by Sherman Johnson’s two-run homer to deep left field, his first of the season, driving in Brayden Fraasman to make it 3-0.

The Wolfpack added another run in the third on a wild pitch that allowed Chris McHugh to score after Fraasman reached on a dropped third strike. They then erupted for six runs in the bottom of the third to blow the game open. Ty Head homered to right field (407 ft), his fifth of the season.

Head later added an RBI single. Sherman Johnson tripled to right-center, driving in two. Wyatt Peifer’s sacrifice fly plated Johnson, and Mikey Ryan capped the inning with a two-run homer to left field (373 ft), his second of the year, bringing the score to 10-0.

Sacred Heart got on the board in the top of the fourth with a three-run homer from Dave Yorke (three RBI), scoring Ronan Donohue and Will Cook on unearned runs to trim the deficit to 10-4.

But NC State responded in the fifth, tacking on six more runs. Ty Head with an RBI groundout. Luke Nixon doubled to right-center, driving in two. Andrew Wiggins, who entered for Fraasman after a dropped pop-up and a strikeout, homered to deep right field, his second of the season. It was a 3-run job. The inning pushed the lead to 16-4.

The Wolfpack added one final run in the sixth.

Ryan Marohn earned the win (2-0) for NC State, tossing 4.0 innings with 3 hits, 4 runs (1 earned), 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Sam Harris closed it out with 3.0 perfect innings (0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K).

Offensively, the Wolfpack were powered by:

  • Sherman Johnson: 3-4, HR, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R
  • Ty Head: 1-3 (PH), HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
  • Andrew Wiggins: 1-3 (PH/PR), HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
  • Luke Nixon: 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI, R
  • Mikey Ryan: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

Sacred Heart starter Bryan Matususchat took the loss (1-2), struggling against the potent NC State lineup.

The Wolfpack improved to 8-1 overall with this blowout, showcasing their offensive depth and power early in the season. Sacred Heart fell to 1-6. The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday, with NC State looking to sweep the Pioneers before their showdown with Top-20 ranked Coastal Carolina.

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