Going 4-0 at the annual Raleigh Times tournament, NC State softball put together a solid weekend to get back on track after losing seven of its first 10 games.
The Wolfpack (8-7) scored 40 runs over the course of the four contests while only allowing 10, getting it done on both sides of the game. The Pack made its mark with multiple offensive explosions versus Providence (2-7), first with a 13-6 win on Friday and then a 15-1 domination on Saturday. Between those contests, the Pack defeated Akron (5-10), and closed it all out with a 4-0 shutout of Illinois (5-9).
Providence Game 1 14-6
Off of freshman third baseman Lily Livingston’s two homer, four-RBI performance versus the Friars, the Wolfpack was in control throughout the game. It got started early as the Pack tallied five runs in the first inning to jump ahead in the blink of an eye, with RBI-singles from senior catcher Hannah Church, sophomore left fielder Taryn Massey and senior designated hitter Teagan Thrunk.
It was a by-committee approach in the circle as three pitchers threw in five innings for the Pack
en route to the run-rule. Senior Rylee Wyman got the start, lasting 2.1 innings and giving up four runs. Redshirt junior Wynne Gore was rock solid, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings before graduate Charli Orsini closed out the fifth, giving up two runs before shutting the door for the win.
Akron 7-3
Putting up seven runs through the first three innings before Akron could record a single one, NC State looked dominant offensively and defensively versus the Zips. Junior right fielder Sarah Johnson got things started with a two-RBI bomb over the right-field fence to assert another early lead for the Wolfpack.
Gore was out there for all seven innings, looking solid until the Zips’ offense began to eat away at the lead with small ball on a two-RBI single and a sac-fly in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively. But she held serve late to record the win for the Pack.
Providence Game 2 15-1
Game 2 versus Providence was even more of a beatdown for the Pack as it hung 15 runs on the Friars. Providence threatened in the top of the first with a solo homer, but it didn’t score the rest of the game. Meanwhile, NC State recorded five extra-base hits, including two home runs to surge ahead. Livingston went off again, going 3-for-3 at the plate with four more RBIs.
Freshman Morgen Talley pitched all five innings for the Pack, rebounding after giving up that two-out home run in the first, allowing just two hits the rest of the game.
Illinois 4-0
Closing the tournament with a Sunday morning win versus Illinois, the Pack looked dominant once again as Gore pitched another complete game — this time, making it all seven innings without giving up a run. Gore gave up just two hits, lowering her ERA for the season to just 1.85.
At the plate, the Pack took a while to get going, but then recorded a four-run fifth frame to secure the game-winning runs. Talley got things started with a solo homer before a stolen base and pair of singles secured the other three runs.
Next up, the Pack takes on Toledo, Lehigh and Loyola Chicago at the Wolfpack Classic Feb. 27 to Mar. 1.
