NC State softball fell in game three of its series against No. 5 Duke, losing 5-3 in Raleigh.
Despite the Wolfpack’s initial lead in the fifth inning, the game took a turn in the sixth frame when the Blue Devil batters scored two crucial runs, securing a one-run lead that Duke maintained till the end.
Though both games had the same result, the Wolfpack saw a massive upgrade in the batter’s box from game two, notching five hits and three runs compared to its one hit and one run on Saturday.
“I think they did a good job making adjustments on a pitching staff that has a low ERA,” said head coach Lindsay Leftwich. “They can swing with anybody out there, we just have to swing one through nine better and not rely on three, four or five hitters.”
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Rylee Wyman played the entire game in the circle for the Wolfpack, closing the game with five hits allowed and five strikeouts, both stark improvements from the first two games of the series. However, Wyman hit three batters with her pitches, bringing her season total to 17 HBP. It has been a recurring issue throughout the season and will be a key focus during the offseason.
The Wolfpack stepped up at a crucial time in the fifth, entering the inning down 2-0 and with just one hit on the game. A couple of singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases and opened a key scoring opportunity for junior right fielder Taylor Ensley. She managed to bring a runner home, although getting herself out in the process. Still down one and with two outs, sophomore designated hitter Madison Inscoe hit a two-RBI single to give the Wolfpack its only lead of the series.
“We’ve seen massive growth in not just their swings but the way that they attack each at-bat,” Leftwich said. “They’ve shown that they can do it with the top five teams in our conference, so we can only build on that and take that into the next series and into the next season.”
Season expectations were low for the Wolfpack, who is in the midst of a transition year after a head coaching change in the offseason. Leftwich spent a dozen years at LSU, where she helped lead the team to four College World Series appearances and two finals. Her winning experience and mentality have already helped the Pack improve from last season, going from 18 wins to 27 wins and counting.
Not only was there a coaching adjustment, but the Wolfpack is one of the youngest and inexperienced teams in the conference. Just three upperclassmen consistently play in the usual batting order, instead relying on a handful of sophomores and a freshman. It takes time to develop experience, and this season has been a prime example.
“I think that we all knew that it was going to be a growing year, a year of figuring out our identity,” Leftwich said. “Teaching athletes how to win is sometimes just as important as teaching them the skills. That’s where we are and hopefully, by the end of the year, we can walk away from this thing knowing that we’ve done all the little things right and there’s a stack for next year.”
The Wolfpack will stay in Raleigh for its final series of the season against Pittsburgh, beginning on Friday, May 3. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m.
