Pack9 secures series win over Lafayette

NC State rallies late to take two of three from the Leopards in final non-conference tuneup

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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After dropping the series opener, NC State's baseball team came alive late on both Saturday and Sunday to secure a series win over Lafayette in the Wolfpack's final non-conference regular season series. State improves to 14-2 on the year while Lafayette drops to 1-9.

Why it matters

This series against a previously winless Patriot League opponent raises some concerns for NC State heading into ACC play, as the Wolfpack struggled at times against the overmatched Leopards. The team will need to address issues like leaving too many runners on base if they hope to have success against tougher conference foes.

The details

On Saturday, NC State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and never looked back, getting a dominant pitching performance from Jacob Dudan and big offensive games from Dalton Bargo, Mikey Ryan, and Ty Head. Sunday's contest was closer, but the Wolfpack pulled away late, powered by a big game from Preston Bonn, who hit two home runs.

  • The series took place over the weekend of March 6-8, 2026.
  • NC State's next game is a Tuesday matchup against Elon on March 10, 2026.

The players

Jacob Dudan

The NC State pitcher who threw 6.2 innings of one-run ball on Saturday, striking out 10 batters.

Dalton Bargo

The NC State infielder who hit a home run in the first inning on Saturday and grounded into three double plays on Sunday.

Preston Bonn

The NC State redshirt freshman who had a huge game on Sunday, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, four runs scored, and five RBIs.

Teddy Cashman

The Lafayette player who hit a pinch-hit three-run home run in the ninth inning on Saturday.

Brian Cashman

The New York Yankees general manager, who is the father of Lafayette player Teddy Cashman.

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What’s next

NC State will take on Elon in Raleigh on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 3:00pm.

The takeaway

While NC State was able to secure the series win over Lafayette, the Wolfpack's struggles at times against the overmatched Leopards raise some concerns heading into ACC play. The team will need to address issues like leaving too many runners on base if they hope to have success against tougher conference opponents.