The softball team followed up a 4-3 triumph in extra innings with a 3-0 win in the second game to sweep Tuesday afternoon’s doubleheader against the Michigan State Spartans. The wins improved the Pack’s season record to 10-7 and dropped the Spartans to 8-10 overall. Sophomore third baseman Bridget Desbois’ walk off solo homer in the eighth inning lifted the Pack to a 4-3 win despite leaving eight runners on base and allowing the Spartans to come back from a 3-0 deficit to make the game tied up until Desbois’ decisive blast.
Senior pitcher Mendy McKenzie said that Desbois’ home run was exciting and described the momentum it allowed the team to take into the second game.
“It was very exciting, it was awesome that Bridget got a home run to win the game,” McKenzie said. “It was an awesome feeling, and we were so excited going into the next game too, so it really helped.”
The second game of the double header saw considerably less offense from both teams, as the Pack and Spartans combined for just three runs on nine hits after the two teams bat’s amassed seven runs on 17 hits in the 4 o’ clock game.
The game got off to a rocky start for the Wolfpack, as the Spartans had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the first inning after a double, an error and a walk. With Spartan second baseman Gina Mondo, who entered the double header hitting .444, at the plate, it looked like a long night was in store for the Pack. But Mondo hit a fielder’s choice back to McKenzie and she struck out the next batter to escape the inning unscathed. McKenzie then settled into a zone for the remaining six innings, striking out eight batters while giving up just three hits and one error en route to a complete game shutout.
According to Debois, McKenzie has pitched very well lately and has meant a lot to the team.
“She has been really great, she has been on a roll and she has been hitting all her spots,” Desbois said. “We are all back behind her, and she really helps.”
The nightcap remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when sophomore catcher Alyssa Allbritten crushed a lead-off home run to give the Pack the lead. The team then utilized a double by sophomore shortstop Eliza Jacobellis and two wild pitches and an error by Michigan State to add one more run in the bottom of the fifth.
The Pack bats provided another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as freshman outfielder Bethaney Wells drove in freshman shortstop Morgan Barbour, who pinch ran for Desbois and moved to second on a single by Allbritten, who finished 2-3 on the night.
Desbois said after the game that sweeping the double header has the team very confident going into this weekend’s road series against Virginia Tech.
“We feel confident,” Desbois said. “We know we can go up there and sweep them so we are ready to go.”
The Pack’s final tune-up before their trip to Blacksburg this weekend will be against Winthrop Thursday afternoon in Rock Hill, SC.
