NC State Baseball Dominates Duke in Series Opener

Wolfpack pitching shines as they take down Blue Devils 10-4 in Raleigh

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:39pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a college baseball game, with the players and field abstracted into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant blue, red, and white colors, conveying the dynamic energy of the game.The Wolfpack's explosive offensive and dominant pitching performance fractures the traditional baseball field into a dynamic cubist canvas.Today in Raleigh

The NC State Wolfpack baseball team defeated their in-state rival Duke Blue Devils 10-4 in the series opener at Doak Field in Raleigh. The Wolfpack pitching staff, led by starter Ryan Marohn and reliever Anderson Nance, combined for 17 strikeouts and held the Blue Devils in check throughout the game. The Wolfpack offense also came alive, with home runs from Mikey Ryan and Sherman Johnson helping to build a big lead.

Why it matters

This win puts the Wolfpack on a five-game winning streak and sets them up well for the rest of the series against Duke. With the loss of star pitcher Jacob Dudan to injury, the Wolfpack pitching staff needed to step up, and they did so impressively in this game. The Wolfpack's fast and athletic lineup also proved to be a challenge for the Blue Devils.

The details

NC State jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, using a combination of strong pitching, timely hitting, and aggressive baserunning to defeat Duke. Starter Ryan Marohn pitched six strong innings, striking out nine batters, while reliever Anderson Nance came in to close out the game. On offense, the Wolfpack got home runs from Mikey Ryan and Sherman Johnson, and also stole three bases to put pressure on the Duke defense.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 11, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
  • The Wolfpack and Blue Devils will face off again on Saturday, April 12, 2026 at 3 p.m.

The players

Ryan Marohn

The junior ace pitcher for the NC State Wolfpack, who earned the win by pitching six strong innings and striking out nine batters.

Anderson Nance

The sophomore right-handed pitcher who came in to relieve Marohn and pitched the final three innings to secure the win for the Wolfpack.

Mikey Ryan

The sophomore shortstop for the Wolfpack, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and four RBIs to lead the offense.

Sherman Johnson

The junior third baseman for the Wolfpack, who hit a two-run home run in the third inning to extend the Wolfpack's lead.

Drew Lanphere

The redshirt junior catcher for the Wolfpack, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and helped guide the pitching staff to their strong performance.

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What they’re saying

“Marohn went out there and was great, then Nance went behind him and played great. They have followed each other a lot this year, and I think they make up a pretty good one-two punch.”

— Elliott Avent, Head Coach, NC State Wolfpack

“This is one of the fastest teams we've had. Collectively one-through-nine, this is probably the fastest team we have had, and the most athletic team we've had.”

— Elliott Avent, Head Coach, NC State Wolfpack

“[Marohn and Nance] did awesome, I have confidence in every pitcher in there. Especially as a catcher, to give them confidence and just go pitch-by-pitch, it gives me a lot of confidence understanding them.”

— Drew Lanphere, Redshirt Junior Catcher, NC State Wolfpack

What’s next

The Wolfpack and Blue Devils will face off again on Saturday, April 12, 2026 at 3 p.m. in Raleigh.

The takeaway

This dominant performance by the Wolfpack pitching staff and offense sets them up well to win the series against their in-state rival Duke. With their fast and athletic lineup, the Wolfpack proved to be too much for the Blue Devils to handle in the series opener.