No. 10 NC State Wolfpack Stunned by Elon in Shutout Loss

Head coach Elliott Avent frustrated by team's lack of adjustments against mid-major opponent

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The No. 10 ranked NC State Wolfpack baseball team suffered a surprising 2-0 shutout loss to Elon, a mid-major program that had previously been swept by Charleston Southern. Wolfpack head coach Elliott Avent expressed frustration with his team's inability to make adjustments at the plate against Elon's soft-throwing left-handed pitcher Owen Winebarger, who held NC State to just four hits over 6.1 innings. Avent criticized his team's "one-dimensional" power-based approach, saying they need to "play the game the way it was meant to be played" by executing small-ball tactics like walks and singles to create scoring opportunities.

Why it matters

The loss to Elon marks the second time this season that the highly-ranked Wolfpack have been shut out by a mid-major opponent, raising concerns about their ability to adjust their offensive approach against pitchers who don't overpower them with velocity. With ACC play starting this weekend, NC State needs to find a way to diversify its offense to avoid similar struggles against conference foes.

The details

Elon's Owen Winebarger, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound left-hander, held the Wolfpack in check for 6.1 innings, allowing just four hits while inducing 10 fly outs. NC State, which had scored 187 runs in its first 16 games, struggled to generate base runners the "old-fashioned way" with walks and singles, instead relying too heavily on extra-base hits and home runs. Even after Winebarger was lifted, Elon's bullpen kept the Wolfpack off the scoreboard, not allowing a hit or walk the rest of the way.

  • The loss to Elon came two days after NC State had won the previous two games of the series against Lafayette by a combined score of 24-8.
  • NC State is set to open ACC play this weekend against Boston College, which just won a series at Miami.

The players

Elliott Avent

The head coach of the NC State Wolfpack baseball team, who has led the program for the past 30 seasons.

Owen Winebarger

A 6-foot-2, 180-pound left-handed pitcher for Elon who held the Wolfpack to just four hits over 6.1 innings.

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What they’re saying

“He did what he does and we knew what he does. We made no adjustments throughout the entire game. We were frustrated at times, we just refused to make adjustments. We're going to do what we do, and if somebody's doing something different, then it won't work out for us. If we don't learn how to play baseball, play this game and what the game gives you, then it's going to be a long season.”

— Elliott Avent, Head Coach (on3.com)

“Right now, we're a very one-dimensional baseball team. One-dimensional baseball teams get beat a lot.”

— Elliott Avent, Head Coach (on3.com)

“Play the game the way it was meant to be played. Play with what the game gives you, play with what the game presents you. Practice those things every day so you can execute them in the game. But if you don't practice them and you want to execute them in the game, you're a fool.”

— Elliott Avent, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.