Securing the win in the circle and at the plate with a walk-off single, freshman Morgen Talley did it all to help Wolfpack softball extend its winning streak to 12 games, beating Michigan State 4-3.
In an everyone hits, but nobody scores affair for much of The Marucci Classic opener, the Pack (15-7) had a constant flow of offense throughout the game. But it couldn’t break the dam versus Michigan State (10-10), only being able to score via a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice play, going 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Soon enough, the Spartans retaliated and took a 3-2 lead after a series of miscues from the NC State defense in the top of the fifth. From there, the Pack’s rock-solid underclassmen core took the wheel.
To tie the game, freshman third baseman Lily Livingston smoked a solo home run over the left field wall to tie the game.
And with the game knotted up in the bottom of the seventh, the best part of the lineup came to the plate. Sophomore second baseman Kendall Simmers got it started with a single. Livingston, next up to the plate, knocked a dribbler up the middle and beat out the throw after it was misplayed by the pitcher. Senior designated player Hannah Church knocked a single to load the bases.
Talley stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded, no outs, game tied 3-3. She had already taken three at-bats and thrown 83 pitches — giving up two hits, two runs and securing six strikeouts. But as she stepped up, there was no sign of fatigue. She got the job done with an RBI-knock up the middle.
“I’m super proud of just the offense, finding a way to make some good adjustments based on different styles of pitching that came in,” said head coach Lindsay Leftwich. “It was just gutsy at the end, finding a way to get ourselves back in it and make sure that we could score when it mattered.”
With a plethora of missed opportunities, NC State failed to execute with runners in scoring position. Every inning, it seemed like they had an opportunity to score with a runner on third, and even loaded the bases multiple times with less than two outs. During that stretch, the Pack grounded into multiple double plays, and did not capitalize.
But the young core which has brought it much success as of late contributed the most important runs, pushing the Pack to victory.
“I think that the upper class has done the best job of welcoming us in, of teaching us kind of the standard here, just inviting us to do things,” Talley said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are.”
From the circle, Talley looked solid through four innings, but began to falter in the fifth, giving up a solo shot to halve the Pack’s lead. She walked the next batter and Leftwich made the slow walk to the middle of the diamond. In her place, redshirt junior Wynne Gore couldn’t put out the fire, hitting the next two batters to load the bases. A walk and an error later by Livingston, the Pack was down and its win streak was in jeopardy.
In the end, it was another tally in the win column — its 12th in row. After starting the season 3-7, the Pack has come a long way.
“I think that last inning was just something different,” Talley said. “We were all in it for one another, wanted to win for one another and it was just so loud, energetic. And honestly, it was really fun … Gotta trust God’s plan. Sometimes, he gives you the hardest challenges in the beginning, but that prepared us for where we are now.”
Next up, the Pack continues its campaign in The Marucci Classic, taking on Stetson at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 5.
