This weekend's ACC baseball series between NC State and Duke is about more than conference standings. While the Wolfpack secured a strong 10-4 victory on Friday night, Saturday's matchup holds a deeper significance for the program and its community.

NC State will host its annual Victory Over Cancer game at Doak Field at Dail Park, a powerful tradition now in its third year. The event, founded by head coach Elliott Avent, honors pediatric cancer fighters, survivors, and their families, turning the ballpark into a stadium of hope.

The game's origins are rooted in a powerful Wolfpack connection. Coach Avent started the event with the help of former NC State star and current MLB All-Star Trea Turner and his family, in partnership with the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The legacy of NC State legend Jim Valvano, for whom the foundation is named, adds profound weight to the occasion.

"It's amazing," Avent shared, reflecting on the event's growth. "It gives you hope more than anything else. Everybody that's fighting a fight, the main thing you need is hope." For Avent, the cause is deeply personal, as he has a young nephew currently battling cancer.

The 3 p.m. game on Saturday promises to be an emotional and inspiring chapter in this heated rivalry, showcasing the strength of the Wolfpack family both on and off the field.