In a complete flip of the script from its game Friday night, the NC State softball team fell to No. 21 Ohio State, 5-4, Saturday afternoon in extra innings.
The Wolfpack (4-3) led the Buckeyes (7-1) 3-0 heading into the seventh inning, but freshman pitcher Kama Woodall was unable to seal the deal, relinquishing the lead in both the seventh and eighth innings.
After a quiet first four innings in which neither team was able to muster a run, the Wolfpack broke through with two runs in the top of the fifth. After a bunt single by freshman outfielder Sam Russ and a double from sophomore outfielder Jade Caraway, sophomore outfielder Angie Rizzi drove in Russ through a fielder’s choice and freshman catcher Lily Bishop hit a sacrifice fly to plate Caraway.
NC State added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Bishop drove in Russ with a two-out single. As it turned out, the Wolfpack didn’t purchase enough insurance.
Woodall, who went 7.1 innings, striking out three and letting up five runs, four of which were earned, let up three hits and walked a batter in the seventh inning that culminated in a line-drive single to right field from Buckeyes shortstop Lilli Piper, knocking in the tying run. Woodall would manage to get out of the inning without allowing another run, but the damage was already done.
Junior designated hitter Jessica Moore led off the eighth inning with a line-drive single into right field for the Wolfpack. After a sacrifice bunt by sophomore second baseman Haley Finn and a single from Russ moved Moore’s pinch-runner, senior Macauley Prickett, to third base. Caraway drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
In the bottom of the eighth, second baseman Emily Clark reached base for the Buckeyes on an error by Finn. After a sacrifice bunt moved Clark to second base, pitcher Shelby McCombs stepped to the plate looking to deliver the win for herself.
McCombs proceeded to take Woodall’s 2-0 offering deep to centerfield to win the game for the Buckeyes.
Woodall held the Buckeyes scoreless through the first six innings, but ran out of steam in the last two. The Buckeyes knocked Woodall around for five runs in 1.1 innings pitched in the seventh and eighth innings.
Caraway went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk and one RBI and Russ went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, leading the way for a Wolfpack offense that managed seven hits and took five walks.
Rizzi went 0 for 3, but managed two walks and an RBI to reach base four out of her five at bats. Bishop knocked in two runs of her own on her way to a 1 for 3 game at the plate.
The Wolfpack returns to action again Saturday evening against Northwestern at Dail Softball Stadium in one of two games against the Wildcats as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
