In its second game of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and its first of a Saturday doubleheader, the NC State softball team completed a final-inning comeback for the second game in a row, using a four-run seventh inning to down Ohio State 5-3 at Dail Softball Stadium.
After struggling to hit with runners on base for most of the game, the Wolfpack (4-3) bats woke up in the last inning, plating four runs on four hits and two walks. Less than 24 hours after smashing a walk-off home run Friday night, junior infielder Logan Morris came through again, launching a two-run home run to secure the Pack’s second straight win over the Buckeyes (3-4).
Playing as the visiting team in its home stadium due to the nature of the inter-conference tournament, NC State threatened immediately in the top of the first inning. Senior right fielder Tatyana Forbes and junior infielder Logan Morris drew back-to-back one-out walks on full counts, putting runners on first and second for cleanup hitter senior Brigette Nordberg. But the Pack’s 2019 home runs leader struck out swinging, and junior infielder Randi Farricker followed Nordberg with a swinging strikeout as NC State stranded two in the top of the first.
Ohio State got on the board first when catcher Claire Nicholson, batting just .071 entering the game, sat on an outside fastball from senior right-hander Devin Wallace and launched a solo home run over the right-center fence to put the Buckeyes up 1-0.
The Wolfpack struck back in the top of the fifth, tying the game up at 1-1. After a single by junior outfielder Sam Russ, who proceeded to steal second base and reach third on a throwing error, Forbes picked up her second hit of the game, plating Russ with a bloop single into left field.
But it was just one inning later when Ohio State retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Buckeyes shortstop Carley Gaskill hit a solo home run, the second surrendered by Wallace, to put Ohio State up, 2-1.
For the second game in a row, NC State entered the final inning trailing, and for the second game in a row the top of the Wolfpack lineup came through. Freshman infielder Libby Whittaker led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch, and after pinch runner Kelsey O’Connor reached second base on a throwing error, Russ singled to center field, scoring Whittaker and tying things up at 2-2.
Russ stole second base on the very next pitch, and with a runner on second and one out, Forbes smashed a triple to the center-field wall for her third hit of the game, scoring Russ and giving NC State its first lead of the game, 3-2. Logan Morris increased the lead for the Pack with some insurance runs, hitting a two-run home run to center field, bringing the score to 5-2.
Morris’ insurance runs proved to be huge, as Ohio State mounted a comeback in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a run and putting runners on second and third with two outs before sophomore righty Sydney Nester came in in relief of Wallace and slammed the door.
The 1-2-3 punch of Russ, Forbes and Morris continued their hot starts to the season. Russ went 2 for 4, scoring two runs and stealing two bases, while Forbes was a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk and two stolen bases. Morris picked up where she left off Friday night, drawing a walk and going 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs.
NC State will be back in action later tonight when it takes on Illinois at 5:30 p.m. for its penultimate game of the ACC/Big 10 Challenge. The final game will be tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. against Illinois.
