The North Carolina A&T baseball team saw its 2026 campaign close with an 8‑7 walk‑off defeat at the hands of the Monmouth Hawks, a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth sealing the loss.
Finishing the season at 14‑38 overall and 5‑25 in the Coastal Athletic Association, the Aggies dropped all ten three‑game conference series, highlighting the steep climb they faced throughout the year.
Even in defeat, the lineup produced several memorable moments. Senior Luis Gomez started a rally with a one‑out single, and sophomore JT Taylor answered with a two‑run homer that put A&T ahead. RJ Mustaro later tied the game with a two‑run blast, while Nick DiCarlo’s two‑run single in the fourth had given the Aggies a 5‑3 lead earlier. Right‑hander Grayson King’s outing ended when he hit Brendan Buecker with a 2‑2 pitch, and reliever Kevin Opanel retired the side in order before the decisive frame. James Van Meter surrendered a single to Colin Ritcher before graduate Diego Barrett entered, and Chris Walsh’s sacrifice bunt moved Buecker to third and Ritcher to second. Wyatt Hunt’s foot was struck by Barrett’s next pitch, loading the bases, and a subsequent wild pitch allowed Buecker to score the winning run. Earlier in the game, Nick Lavarco and RJ Mustaro each launched solo homers in the seventh to knot the score at 5‑5.
Monmouth, now 29‑21 overall and 20‑10 in conference play, capitalized on the victory to claim an automatic berth in the 2026 CAA Baseball Championship Tournament slated for Wilmington, North Carolina.
A Bittersweet Finale
The game also marked the close of careers for seniors Nick DiCarlo and Luis Gomez, who ended their collegiate journeys on a positive note with performances that underscored the program’s resilience and promise for the future.