Sherman Johnson Powers NC State to Midweek Win Over UNCW

Tuesday, April 7

Raleigh, NC

6 p.m.

NC State

22-11

UNCW

19-13

UNCW

NC State

Sherman Johnson Powers NC State to Midweek Win Over UNCW

4/8/2026 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. –Sherman Johnson entered Tuesday's game against UNCW with just one home run on the season, but that changed as he hit his first-ever two-homer game to lead NC State to a 7-4 victory over UNCW in front of 3,228 fans in Raleigh.

NC State (22-11) won its fourth straight game, scoring seven runs as the Wolfpack took the season series from the Seahawks (19-13) and improved to 7-3 in midweek games and 3-2 against in-state opponents.

Johnson finished the night 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks, and two RBIs, both from solo home runs. Brayden Fraasman also had a two-RBI night after two hits. Rett Johnson contributed to his team's leading with a .412 batting average after a two-hit night. Ty Head hit his 10th home run of the season, setting a career high and becoming the first Wolfpack player this season to reach double digits in long balls.

Wolfpack pitching was pieced together in the victory, with Aiden Kitchings (1-0) earning his first collegiate win after pitching 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on one hit, with a walk and two strikeouts. Luke Hemric started and was the first of six NC State pitchers to appear, going two innings and permitting just one run on one hit with a walk and two strikeouts.

Following Kitchings, Ryder Garino, Anderson Nance, and Cooper Consiglio combined for the final three innings, allowing only one base runner among them. Consiglio closed the game in the ninth for his third save of the season.

Wolfpack batters drew 10 walks, marking the sixth time this season NC State has had double-digit walks in a game. UNCW scored first with a run, but could have scored more, as the Seahawks had the bases loaded with one out, yet Hemric limited the damage with a ground ball and a foul out.

Sam Harris came on and relieved Hemric, and finished with a final line of 2.2 innings, allowing four hits but just one run with two walks and two strikeouts.

The Pack's lead came in the fourth inning when Johnson and Head hit back-to-back solo home runs— the second time this season NC State has hit consecutive homers.

The Seahawks evened the game in the top of the fifth, but Fraasman broke the tie with a single down the left field line to make it 3-2 in the bottom of the frame.

UNCW retook the lead with a two-run home run in the sixth. NC State responded with a three-run inning in the bottom of the sixth, as Head drew his 30th walk of the season and advanced to third after a failed pick-off attempt. He later tied the game again on a wild pitch.

Chris McHugh's 45th hit of the season gave the Pack the lead for good as he scored Vincent DeCarlo from second, making it 5-4. Fraasman added an additional Wolfpack run with another RBI single.

Some insurance was provided in the bottom of the seventh when Johnson, after a lengthy 10-pitch at-bat, hit his second home run of the game— a 373-foot shot.

NC State will conclude its eight-game homestand with a three-game series against Duke starting Friday, April 10th at 6 p.m. from the Doak.