The NC State softball team won its sixth consecutive game by defeating Bucknell at Dail Softball Field on Sunday. This win brings its record to 11-4, the best 15-game start in program history since it was first founded in 2004.
“I think we’re playing really well,” said NC State head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift. “The more we play, the more complete games we’re finding.”
The first inning saw plenty of offense but little scoring for the Wolfpack (11-4), loading the bases twice and only scoring one run. Junior left fielder Sam Russ, who was hit by a pitch to lead off, reached home on a sacrifice fly to right field by senior center fielder Angie Rizzi.
The next few innings saw the Bison (6-8) fail to produce another hit, as sophomore right-hander Sydney Nester struck out five opposing batters, bringing her strikeout tally to six through the first four innings. She would finish with nine.
“I think when I slow things down and really take pitch by pitch, it’s a lot easier to lock in,” Nester said. “I think I focused very well today and hit my spots well.”
NC State produced its second hit of the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth, this time in home-run fashion. Pinch-hitting for freshman first baseman Sam Gress, senior infielder Skylar Johnston knocked a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right-center field to put the Pack up 2-0.
Bucknell finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. Nester gave up a walk to start the frame, followed by a strikeout, single and a hit batter to load the bases with one out. On the payoff pitch, Nester notched her third walk of the game, walking in a run for the Bison and cutting NC State’s lead in half.
With the tying run on third base, NC State slammed the door on a comeback with an elaborate double play to escape the jam. When redshirt junior shortstop Randi Farricker dropped a line drive, she fired a throw to home for the first force out and junior catcher Sam Sack threw to third base for the second force out, the final out of the inning.
The Bison would again threaten to score in the seventh when Nester allowed two more singles to put runners at first and second with nobody out. At this point, Patrick-Swift made a call to the bullpen, and senior righty Devin Wallace entered in relief.
Wallace was immediately called on to make a defensive play when a Bucknell batter bunted to the circle. Wallace made the throw to first, putting both runners in scoring position with one out. A strikeout by Wallace and a flyout to left field ended the contest for the Wolfpack and secured its record-breaking start.
“I’m really proud of the team,” Patrick-Swift said. “They showed up and defended their home field. Every game we come out and expect to win. We swung big bats and pitchers threw really well over the weekend…it was a really solid weekend.”
NC State will continue its homestand on Wednesday when it hosts the Duke Blue Devils at Dail Softball Stadium for a nonconference midweek game. First pitch will be at 5:00 pm.
