Led by a no-hitter in the first game and a win in the second contest from sophomore right-handed pitcher Emily Weiman, the Wolfpack swept the UNC-Charlotte 49ers in the double header, 2-0 and 10-3, respectively.
“It feels really good, my first career no-hitter,” Weiman said. “But you know, I’m coming out here to help my team win, so it’s not something I’m trying to work for, but it is something nice to have in my career. But it felt good.”
“It’s hard to sweep teams and it’s good for us,” head coach Shawn Rychick said. “We’re back over .500 now.”
Weiman threw the first no-hitter for State since 2009. She also retired 12-straight batters to end the game and allowed only one runner on base with a walk in the fourth inning.
“It’s awful nice to get a no-hitter,” Rychick said. “I don’t care who it’s against, if it’s the best team in the league or the worst team in the league. It’s hard to throw a no-hitter, so I thought that was an outstanding effort from Emily.”
Junior third baseman Chelsea Tate also extended her hitting streak to nine games in the double-header. She hit a single to right field in the first game and smacked a home run over the right field wall.
“It gives me confidence,” Weiman said. “I think it really comes down to everyone in the field, too. My catcher, my coaches, my offense. It gives me confidence, but my team helps me out a lot too.”
Junior infielder Scout Albertson notched in an RBI to drive in the run from infielder Renada Davis to give State the lead in the third inning. Senior outfielder Bethany Wells smacked a home run to center field to get the Pack’s second run of the first game.
“I said after the game, you guys would’ve felt sick if you would’ve dropped that second game the way we came out in the second game and jumped on them,” Rychick said.
“I was glad to keep that going and see us keep that momentum and put 10 on the board. It’s a pretty good day,” Rychick said.
State shot out to a 5-0 lead in the second contest and never looked back. It failed to produce a run only in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman first baseman Hanna Sommer paced the Pack by scoring three runs on three hits. She also drove in three RBI’s for the Wolfpack. Tate scored three runs in the game as well.
“We got just enough run support and they threw their top kid. We got just enough for her,” Rychick said.
The Wolfpack will return to action with a three-game series against Maryland, beginning Saturday.
