Facing some of the top teams in the nation at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, NC State softball could not hang with the best, but did not come home empty handed.
After taking a beating from No. 17 Georgia (9-2) on day one, NC State (3-7) got one over Missouri (4-7) in an encouraging performance for the Wolfpack. An all around solid performance from the Pack’s best helped it push past the Tigers. But that would be the peak for NC State as it dropped the weekend’s final three games to No. 8 Texas A&M (7-3), No. 1 Texas Tech (11-1) and UCF (9-3). The total run differential for NC State was 53-20.
No. 17 Georgia
The Pack got off to a rough start in Clearwater, Florida, as Georgia had its way at the plate, scoring 16 runs in four innings, including an 11-run fourth frame. The Pack did not get on the board until the top of the fifth, as it looked to stave off the mercy rule. Senior center fielder Maia Townsend did her part with a 2-RBI double to keep the hope alive, staving off a shutout and at least provided the Pack with a little bit of confidence heading into the next few games.
The gap was too large as each pitcher that took to the circle for the Pack gave up at least five runs, as senior Rylee Wyman, graduate Charli Orsini and junior Kadie Becker each had a rough outing versus the high-powered Georgia offense. The Pack offense could not keep up and NC State fell 16-2.
Missouri
The lone win for the Pack came in an exciting fashion as NC State held off a late push from the Tigers to win 13-7.
The Pack slammed three home runs through the first three frames, including a grand slam from freshman third baseman Lily Livingston to take an 11-2 lead. Sophomore second baseman Kendall Simmers and senior catcher Hannah Church were the other players to send one out of the yard.
In the circle, freshman pitcher Morgen Talley came out strong, pitching four solid innings and giving up just two runs. But when she came out for the fifth, a series of walks and errors in the field put ducks on the pond, which Missouri converted into runs with a fielder’s choice, a bases-loaded walk and a 2-RBI double.
After head coach Lindsay Leftwich had seen enough, redshirt junior righty Wynne Gore came in to put out the fire, which she did successfully. Giving up just one run and saving the Pack from another brutal collapse, Gore carried the Pack across the finish line.
No. 8 Texas A&M
Heading into the sixth inning, the Pack was hanging around with the Aggies despite the long odds. Wyman pitched a solid first five frames, giving up just two hits and keeping the score at 1-0, Texas A&M. But like the game prior, when the starting pitcher for the Pack ran out of gas, the game quickly got out of hand. And NC State’s offense did not provide any run support, putting the game out of reach in just a few moments.
The Aggies hung seven runs in the sixth before the Pack retaliated with two of its own, as the Pack played small ball and put runners aboard and brought them home with four singles. But that was all the offense the Pack could muster, with those four hits being all that came off the Wolfpack bats and NC State fell 10-2.
No. 1 Texas Tech
Taking on the nation’s top team, NC State faced a tall hill to climb. It instantly was headed in the wrong direction as all three Wolfpack batters struck out in the top of the first, and in the bottom half, the Red Raiders sent a two-run shot over the fence for an early lead. The effort was not helped as a few walks put runners aboard in the second inning and Livingston made an error at third base, leading to three unearned runs.
The lone run for the Pack came as Church doubled and brought home star freshman shortstop Carly Short who reached on a walk. Short currently leads the Pack in batting average so far this season, hitting .364. Short went 4-for-15 over the course of the Shriners.
On the mound, Talley started the game for the Pack but was quickly pulled after giving up the home run and the debacle in the field. Gore came in relief, but the Red Raiders got to her too, as she allowed four earned and seven unearned runs. Stopping the bleeding and closing things out on the way to a 14-1 loss was Orsini, who gave up one unearned run in .2 innings.
UCF
Ending the Shriners with a disappointing 6-2 loss to a solid UCF team, the Pack could not get any production at the plate, going just 4-for-28 and stranding 10 runners in scoring position. On the other side, UCF produced an early 2-RBI homer to pave the way for a dominant 6-2 win.
When NC State did get on the board, it came via errors in the field, scoring on a throwing error and an error by the opposing pitcher. Tallying half of the Pack’s hits was Townsend, who notched two singles.
In the circle, Wyman pitched another solid four inning, two earned-run outing. But once again, the senior did not get the run support from the offense. Talley threw an inning in relief, giving up one earned run, and Gore closed out the final two innings.
After a tough 3-7 start to the season, the Pack will look to bounce back as it hosts Queens on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 5 p.m. at Dail Softball Stadium.
