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NC State Freshmen Fire Up Bullpen
21 Feb
Summary
- Freshman relievers are making significant contributions early in the 2026 season.
- Freshman Aiden Kitchings, son of a former assistant coach, impressed with three strikeouts.
- Pitcher Collins Black recorded all six outs via strikeout in his debut.
NC State's coaching staff is demonstrating significant trust in its young bullpen during the early stages of the 2026 baseball season. Coach Elliott Avent has been strategically deploying freshman pitchers in high-pressure situations across the initial games, a bold move that appears to be paying off.
Freshman right-hander Aiden Kitchings, who grew up around the program as the son of former assistant football coach Des Kitchings, made a notable appearance at home. He pitched two innings, striking out three batters and successfully navigating a challenging situation without allowing any runs.
Adding to the bullpen's emerging strength, pitcher Collins Black made his Wolfpack debut on Friday. Although he allowed a late two-run home run, Black was highly effective overall, recording all six of his outs through strikeouts, underscoring the potent potential of NC State's young arms.
