Facing off against No. 24 Louisville in a home series, NC State softball was beaten two games to one, but picked up its first ranked win of the season.
Game 1: 1-5 Loss
The Cardinals (43-11) took off running from the jump as they scored four runs in just the first two innings to rain on NC State’s Senior Day parade. The Pack couldn’t catch up, and freshman utility player Morgen Talley scored the only run for her team with a solo homer in the second.
NC State (27-25) started sloppy with an early error and lack of attack, which Louisville capitalized on as they struck first and didn’t let up.
Talley’s home run in the same inning looked to be the momentum shift NC State needed, but Louisville retaliated in the fourth with a solo shot of its own to stretch the Cardinal’s lead back to four.
The Wolfpack tried to change up their game to make a move, but nothing stuck, and Louisville’s pitching in the last two innings sealed the game.
Game 2: 10-6 Win
It was the Wolfpack’s turn to put the pressure on early, as it earned four runs in the first inning alone. Sophomore infielder Kendall Simmers stapled a two-run single just before Talley knocked a two-run homer to left center, putting the Pack up early.
State continued to produce hits as freshman infielder Carly Short tore a two-run single and Simmers followed with an additional RBI to grow the lead to 7-0.
While being down by seven is a hard feat to come back from, Louisville answered the call in the fourth as they scored four runs, and continued to tack on two more in the sixth as the Wolfpack struggled to keep its foot on the gas. The game was close by the end of the sixth, with NC State only up 7-6.
But the Pack found its footing as Short singled, Livingston drew a walk and Simmers ripped a three-run homer to add four runs worth of extra padding on the scoreboard.
Senior pitcher Rylee Wyman kept the Cardinals from a comeback in the seventh, and the Wolfpack earned their 27th win of the season.
Right before the game, NC State secured a spot in the ACC tournament, which made one of its biggest wins of the season that much sweeter.
Game 3: 3-8 Loss
The Wolfpack crawled its way back after Louisville took an early lead, but following a battle in the middle of the match, the sixth inning proved to be monumental for the Cardinals as they earned three runs and the series title.
The first two innings were stale on both sides, but Louisville drew first blood in the third with five runs thanks to three hits, three walks and an on-point run game.
NC State answered the call during the bottom half of the inning as freshman infielder Lily Livingston launched an RBI single to get senior outfielder Maia Townsend home and put the Pack on the board.
The Wolfpack continued its hunt for the lead in the fifth as Short doubled to center, Livingston provided another RBI and sophomore infielder Taryn Massey pulled off a bases-loaded walk to reduce the Cardinal lead to two runs.
But the comeback didn’t last long as Louisville struck back in the sixth inning, using a two-out error to its advantage and launching a three-run homer to left field, elevating its lead to 8-3.
The show was over after the sixth, as the Pack finished its regular season 27-25 overall and 7-16 in conference play.
NC State travels to Charlottesville, Virginia, to play in the first round of the ACC Championship as the No. 12 seed on May 6 against none other than Louisville in a rematch of its season finale. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m with the winner meeting No. 4 seed Stanford in the quarterfinals.
