Lanphere’s Big Game Helps Wolfpack Pull Away from Winthrop

Wednesday, February 18

Raleigh, NC

3 p.m.

NC State

3-0

Winthrop

2-2

Winthrop

NC State

Lanphere’s Big Game Helps Wolfpack Pull Away from Winthrop

2/18/2026 9:08:00 PM | Baseball

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RALEIGH, N.C.- In a 3-3 game in the bottom of the sixth inning, catcher Drew Lanphere's two-run home run pushed the Wolfpack in front of Winthrop, and NC State pitching held the Eagles in check the rest of the way, giving NC State a 7-3 victory from Doak Field in the home opener.

Lanphere had a four RBI night on two hits, including a double, to give the Pack (3-0) insurance in the bottom of the eighth. Second baseman Luke Nixon had another big night at the plate, going 3-4 with three hits and three runs scored.

After earning eight wins last season, Anderson Nance (1-0) picked up his first of 2026 after going 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts. Heath Andrews got the start and went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Freshman Luke Hemric followed Andrews and made his first collegiate appearance in a Wolfpack uniform. Hemric had a final line of 2.1 innings with one hit allowed, three walks, and three strikeouts. After walking the first batter, he faced a bases-loaded situation in the top of the fourth, Hemric got out of the jam, with two strikeouts.

After the two teams combined for six runs in the first three innings, Winthrop was held scoreless the rest of the way.

The visitors got on the board first, but it was quickly erased, as Mikey Ryan used his speed for an infield single scoring Brayden Frassman from third to tie the game in the bottom of the second inning. It was Ryan's first RBI with NC State and first of his career.

Following Ryan, Lanphere gave the Pack its first lead of the game with a sacrifice fly.

The Eagles tied the game in the third with a sacrifice fly of their own and took the lead after an RBI single from Ethan Wilson.

Just as they did in the second, the Wolfpack tied the game once again, this time from Ty Head's first home run of the season. Coming into the game, Head had yet to record a hit.

Freshman Rett Johnson got the start in left field and showed off defensively, tracking the ball deep fly ball down at the wall and having the awareness of getting it back in quickly and starting a 7-6-3 double play.

Lanphere had one home run all last year, and it didn't come until April. His first of 2026 gave the Pack the lead for good. It was his fourth of his career.

The third home run of the game came from right fielder Brayden Frassman in the eighth, who sent one 396 feet to left field for his first long ball of the season and made it 6-3. Lanphere capped off his night with an RBI double to make it 7-3, where it would finish.

Cooper Consiglio came on and got the final three outs, two via strikeouts, to send the Pack faithful home happy.

The Wolfpack now turns its attention to the weekend when Princeton comes to town for a three-game set beginning on Friday, February 20^th at 3 p.m. from the Doak and on ACCNX.