- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Rock Hill Today
By the People, for the People
Freshman LHP Luke Hemric rises to occasion, NC State beats Winthrop for third straight win
NC State LHP Luke Hemric made his collegiate debut in a tough spot, but rose to the occasion to help the Pack to a 7-3 win vs. Winthrop.
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Freshman Luke Hemric, a tall left-handed pitcher, made his collegiate debut for NC State in a challenging situation, inheriting two runners in scoring position with just one out in the fourth inning. Despite walking the first batter he faced, Hemric settled down and struck out the next two batters to escape the jam, sparking a bullpen performance that featured six shutout innings and a 7-3 win over Winthrop.
Why it matters
Hemric's poise and emotion in his debut showed the coaching staff's trust in the young player, and his ability to rise to the occasion in a high-leverage situation bodes well for his future contributions to the NC State baseball program.
The details
With the score tied 4-4 in the fourth inning, Hemric entered the game and walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. However, he then struck out the next two batters on 1-2 counts, pumping his fist and showing rare emotion as he got NC State out of the jam. Hemric went on to pitch 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit with three walks and three strikeouts, sparking the Wolfpack's bullpen to six shutout innings and a 7-3 victory.
- Hemric entered the game in the fourth inning with the score tied 4-4.
- Hemric struck out the next two batters he faced to escape the bases-loaded jam in the fourth.
The players
Luke Hemric
A freshman left-handed pitcher for NC State who made his collegiate debut in a high-leverage situation, striking out two batters to escape a bases-loaded jam and spark the Wolfpack's bullpen to a 7-3 win over Winthrop.
Elliott Avent
The 30th-year head coach of the NC State baseball team, who put the true freshman Hemric in a challenging spot but was glad to see him rise to the occasion.
What they’re saying
“I put him in a tough situation. He was proud he was able to get out of it. This game will do that to you, so I was glad to see it, to be honest with you.”
— Elliott Avent, Head Coach (on3.com)
“It's rare you see young guys go out there in big jams like that. I've worked my butt off to get where I'm at today. I'm blessed to be able to go out there to pitch to the best of my abilities and to have the coaching staff just trust me to go out there in a big situation like that and execute.”
— Luke Hemric (on3.com)
The takeaway
Hemric's emotional and successful debut in a high-pressure situation shows the potential of the young pitcher and the trust the NC State coaching staff has placed in him, signaling a bright future for the Wolfpack's pitching staff.
