North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Auburn
Wolfpack’s Missed Opportunities Cost NC State Against UCF
5/30/2026 1:27:00 PM | Baseball
AUBURN, Ala. – NC State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but UCF scored nine unanswered runs to take the first game of the Auburn regional, 9-3, at Plainsman Park.
The game was played over two days after weather forced a stoppage in the top of the eighth. It was suspended and resumed at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday with two outs, Chris McHugh on second, and Ty Head at the plate, but nothing would come of it.
The Wolfpack had plenty of opportunities to increase its lead early and even tie the game after trailing. NC State left 10 runners on base in the first five innings and was just 2-8 with runners in scoring position. The Wolfpack left a total of 14 runners on base, a season high.
Offensively, NC State outhit the Knights 12-11. Mikey Ryan had a three-hit game with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored. McHugh had the only two extra-base hits for the Wolfpack. Dalton Bargo drove in two of the three Wolfpack runs.
In the first five innings, the Knights scored in all but the bottom of the fourth. Knight's starter, Camden Wicker, lasted only 3.2 innings after allowing three runs on seven hits, with five walks and just one strikeout.
NC State starter Anderson Nance, in the third start of his career, went five innings but allowed eight runs on nine hits, with just one walk and four strikeouts. UCF's Andrew Williamson hit three home runs in the game.
This was Nance's first time allowing three homers in the same game. Nine hits allowed tied the most for his career, and the eight runs were the most he has given up in two years at NC State.
In the first inning, the Wolfpack got on the board after an infield single from Ryan. With the bases loaded, Bargo delivered a two-run single on a 3-2 count. This marks just the third loss of the season when the Wolfpack scored in the first inning.
UCF immediately responded with two runs in the bottom half of the first, tied the game in the bottom of the second, and took the lead in the third. The Knights would not trail the rest of the game.
NC State had the lead-off runner in six of the nine innings, but none came around to score. The Wolfpack falls to 0-2 all-time against UCF.
NC State will now take on Auburn tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET and will need to win to avoid elimination. Last season, the Wolfpack beat Central Connecticut State and Stetson to face Auburn before falling to the Tigers.
