North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Coastal Carolina
In a Battle of Ranked Teams, No. 13 NC State Takes on No. 16 Coastal Carolina
3/2/2026 4:19:00 PM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. – A ranked matchup comes to the Doak on Tuesday, March 3rd, as No. 13 NC State baseball takes on No. 16 Coastal Carolina at 3 p.m. in the first of two midweeks this week. Following the game against the Chanticleers, the Wolfpack will host Queens on Wednesday, March 4th, at 3 p.m. Both games are available on ACC Network Extra.
The Wolfpack enters on a five-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 90-12. The 90 runs are the most in a five-game stretch in program history and are the most by a D1 team over the past week.
This will mark the 37th all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Wolfpack leading 21-15. Last season, the two teams met in Jacksonville, Fla., with the Chanticleers winning 10-3.
In the first meeting in 1986, under head coach Sam Esposito, the Wolfpack won 9-6. In the 2016 Raleigh Regional, they met three times. Coastal Carolina won the first game 4-0, and NC State then beat the Chanticleers 8-1 to force a win-or-go-home game, which Coastal Carolina won 7-5.
NC State has faced Queens only once before, defeating the Royals 17-2 in 2024.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Tuesday: RHP Heath Andrews (NCSU) vs. LHP Case Bosch (CCU)
Wednesday: TBA vs. TBA
NC State has one of the most explosive offenses in the country. NC State ranks second nationally in batting average (.372) and fifth in on-base percentage (.481), powering the Wolfpack to third nationally in scoring (12.9 runs per game) and third in total runs (142).
The Pack sits fourth nationally in home runs (26) and third in home runs per game (2.36). They also rank third in slugging percentage (.682) and 18th in doubles (29), making them one of the most dangerous lineups in the country.
A key to the Wolfpack's scoring barrage has been their activity on the basepaths. With 30 stolen bases in just 11 games this season, NC State matches its total from 2025. The Wolfpack has been caught only 4 times.
NC State ranks 14th nationally in walks (78) and first in sacrifice flies (13), consistently creating and capitalizing on run-scoring opportunities.
On the mound, the Wolfpack pitching staff owns a 1.92 ERA (fourth nationally) and ranks seventh nationally in WHIP (1.01). Opponents are hitting just enough for NC State to rank fifth in hits allowed per nine innings (5.36). The Pack is 22nd nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (11.6) while maintaining a solid 3.11 strikeout-to-walk ratio (34th nationally).
Sherman Johnson remains one of the best in the nation, as his .556 batting average ranks third nationally and leads the ACC in on-base percentage (.636). At the top of the lineup, Ty Head is 10th nationally in walks (15) and has already surpassed his 2025 home run total with five this season.
Chris McHugh leads the Wolfpack with seven multi-hit games and six games with multiple RBIs. He has hit safely in all 11 games this season.
Amid an 18-game home stand, the Wolfpack is 8-1. NC State had 10 run-rule victories in 2025. The Pack has totaled two so far despite winning four games by 10 or more runs.
