USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
NC State baseball coach Elliott Avent retired after a loss in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. His 30-year run with the Wolfpack is over.
The final play of his last game was unusual. The clock quite literally expired on his career. He exploded on the home plate umpire after the fact.
NC State made the postseason in Avent’s final campaign in Raleigh after going 32-22. The coach announced his plans to retire at the end of the regular season.
Unfortunately, there would be no storybook ending. The Wolfpack went two-and-‘que at the NCAA Tournament. Neither game was all that close.
Elliott Avent loses final NC State baseball game.
The team squared off in the Auburn Regional as a three-seed. It faced UCF on Friday in its opener, losing 9-3.
The Wolfpack actually jumped out to a 3-0 lead in its first at-bat. They then watched the Knights put up nine unanswered runs to run away with a victory.
That loss made Saturday’s contest vs. Auburn make or break. It was an elimination game. The loser’s season would end. NC State quickly found out it would be the one packing its bags.
The Tigers jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first frame. The lead moved to 10-0 in the second. While the Wolfpack would battle back to cut the deficit to three, Auburn was able to regain control.
The Tigers led 17-7 after the top of the sixth.
NC State tried to make a late rally. The Wolfpack scored four runs in the sixth and two in the seventh. They’d be unable to get any closer. Their final at-bat ended in atypical fashion.
The game ended on a pitch clock violation.
AUBURN OUTLASTS NC STATE ON A PITCH CLOCK VIOLATION TO END IT
Elliott Avent’s legendary career comes to an end as NC State is eliminated. Auburn will face loser of UCF/Milwaukee pic.twitter.com/nfar1GTgVS
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) May 30, 2026
Christian Serrano faced a 3-2 count with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Before another pitch was delivered, he was called out.
Serrano took too long to get back in the box between pitches. Auburn’s catcher grabbed the umpire’s attention by pointing to the clock. A strike was awarded to the pitcher, effectively ending the game.
Elliott Avent erupted out of the dugout. Lip readers could quickly make out his explicit message to the home plate umpire. It was a disappointing end to an incredible career.
Avent is the winningest coach in NC State baseball history. He led the program to the College World Series three times. His exit wasn’t ideal, but it takes nothing away from his success.