After sweeping its series against UNC-Charlotte earlier in the week, the N.C. State softball team (19-7-1, 5-6 ACC) used that momentum to win two out of three games against the Maryland Terrapins (20-20, 5-4 ACC).
The Wolfpack lost the first game of the Saturday doubleheader, 2-1. State recovered to shut out the Terps and grab the win in the second game, 4-0. The Pack finished the series with the victory Sunday at Dail Park, 7-1.
Sophomore pitcher Emily Weiman (17-15) was on the mound for all 21 innings and gave up only three runs while striking out 14 batters on the weekend.
“I thought [Weiman] was in command all weekend,” head coach Shawn Rychcik said. “She pitched out of the jam in the seventh so she didn’t give up any unnecessary runs. Overall, it was a great week for her.”
The first Saturday game was a pitcher’s duel as Maryland was held without a hit until the top of the fifth inning. State struck first as junior catcher Kirsty Grant led off the bottom of the third inning with a home run to center field.
The Terrapins rallied in the top of the sixth and scored two runs off of a double by Maryland sophomore catcher Shannon Bustillos.
In the second game, the Pack jumped ahead in bottom of the third with RBI singles from senior left fielder Bethany Wells and junior first baseman Leah Jones.
State added another run in the fourth as senior center fielder Caitlin Dent scored Grant on a one-out double into left-center field. Sophomore shortstop Renada Davis hit a home into left field to conclude the Pack’s scoring.
“We got the hits we needed in the second game and kept Maryland off balance with those early runs,” Rychcik said.
On Sunday afternoon, Davis led off the game by launching the first pitch she saw over the left field fence to give State an early lead. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, junior shortstop Scout Albertson repeated the action to give the Pack another run.
“We don’t come into games looking to hit home runs,” Rychcik said. “Our philosophy is to just drive the ball, hit line drives and put the ball in play. But a lot of those line drives have been going out of the park, which is good to see.”
One inning later, State took advantage Maryland’s defense and tacked three more runs on the scoreboard.
Freshman third baseman Lana Van Dyken scored on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Dent.
Junior second baseman Chelsea Tate followed with a fielder’s choice as Davis and Grant reached home thanks to a throwing error by Terrapin senior third baseman Melissa Mancuso.
In the sixth inning, the Pack once again capitalized on poor Maryland fielding as senior shortstop Katie Mansilla scored on a misthrow from Bustillos. Grant hit a sacrifice fly to score sophomore pinch runner Hayley Stowe to end the game’s scoring.
