The NC State softball team opened its 2020 season with a statement win Friday afternoon, taking down No. 21/25 Ole Miss, 3-2. The Pack then later fell to #8/7 Minnesota, 13-7, to open the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a 1-1 record.

OLE MISS RECAP
All three of NC State's runs came in the second inning, as the NC State defense fended off several comeback threats by Ole Miss. Nordberg opened the second inning with a single to left field, before advancing to second on a wild pitch. An RBI-single from Sam Sack put the Wolfpack on the board first before April Visser delivered the first homer of the season a two run blast over the right field fence.

Ole Miss looked to respond quickly with three singles in the bottom of the second, making the score 3-1, but was quickly shut down by a strikeout from Nester. Ole Miss would leave six runners on base across the next four innings.

Three fielding errors in the bottom of the seventh put the winning run for Ole Miss on third base, but Skylar Johnston made a spectacular play at first to clinch the season opening win.

MINNESOTA RECAP
Minnesota opened the game with a quick 3-0 lead in the first before NC State answered back with two runs in the second, keeping it to a one-run game. Natalie DenHartog hit a two-run home run in the second inning for a 5-2 lead. The Wolfpack kept hitting back, tacking on two runs in the second inning off a two-RBI single from Forbes.

After the Gophers took a 13-4 lead, which included a five-run fourth inning, NC State clawed its way back in it with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. After loading the bases, Russ delivered a two-RBI single before a single from Morris scored the third run. Despite not being able to narrow the gap closer, NC State put up a total of seven hits and four runs (three earned) off of All-American Amber Fiser.

Devin Wallace earned the decision, pitching a total of five innings where she allowed seven runs (four earned) off of three hits with three strikeouts. Wallace started the game and pitched the opening two innings before Sam Gress came in relief. Gress pitched two innings before Wallace came in to conclude the game.

UP NEXT

NC State continues play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, taking on another top-25 opponent Saturday in #15/16 Kentucky. Saturday concludes with a game against Missouri State.

https://gopack.com/news/2020/2/7/softball-wolfpack-take-down-21-ole-miss-to-open-2020-season.aspx

UP NEXT
NC State concludes its opening weekend of action with a Sunday matchup against --/RV Mississippi State at 12 p.m.

While @PackSoftball would have liked to come away better than 2-3 on the weekend, there are some positive signs of things to come for the Pack this season. Here are some of the key takeaways from the Pack's performance in the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
https://t.co/goWjePV1hb

Technician

Capturing a couple of quality wins this weekend over Big Ten teams would bolster @PackSoftball's resume and help in getting the team back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015.
https://t.co/xHQ5Qdj8Be

Despite being down 3-0 in the sixth inning to RV/RV Ohio State, the NC State softball team fought all the way back to a 5-3 victory Friday evening, including a walk-off home run by junior Logan Morris. It was the first walk-off home run of Morris' career.

All five of NC State's runs came from homers in the sixth and seventh inning, with senior Brigette Nordberg recording her second of the season. Friday's game was the Wolfpack's opening game of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and marked NC State's first win the challenge since 2018.


UP NEXT
NC State continues the 2020 Big Ten/ACC Challenge with a pair of games Saturday, Feb. 15. The Wolfpack will face off against Ohio State once again at 12:30 p.m. before matching up against Illinois at 5:30 p.m.

https://gopack.com/news/2020/2/14/softball-morris-hits-walk-off-home-run-in-home-opener.aspx

NC State 5
THE ohio state university 3
Final

The NC State softball team picked up another pair of impressive wins in day two of the 2020 Big Ten/ACC Challenge, downing both Ohio State and Illinois. The Wolfpack took the weekend sweep over Ohio State with another 5-3 victory before defeating Illinois, 7-2. Both Ohio State and Illinois were receiving votes in last weeks top-25 polls.

OHIO STATE RECAP
Wallace retired 16 of the first 17 batters she faced, with the lone hit being Nicholson's solo home run for a 1-0 Ohio State lead. Russ smacked a one-out single to left field in the top of the fifth before stealing second and advancing to third on a Buckeye throwing error. Forbes, who is hitting .600 this season with runners in scoring position, tied the game with a single to left field that scored Russ.

With Ohio State batting as the home team, the Buckeyes second home run of the day put NC State down, 2-1, entering the top of the seventh. Libby Whittaker took her first collegiate at bat, pinch hitting for Sam Sack. Whittaker was hit by a pitch, with Kelsey O'Connor then entering the game as a pinch runner.

Down to its last two outs, the top of the lineup delivered once again for the Wolfpack. An RBI-single from Sam Russ tied the game before Forbes notched her second triple of the season which gave NC State its first lead of the game, 3-2. For the second game in a row, Logan Morris delivered what would be the game winner, with a two-run homer.

Ohio State tacked on three hits, including an RBI-double, to pull back within three, but couldn't tack on any additional runs as Nester retired the final batter.

ILLINOIS RECAP
After giving up a two-out home run in the top of the first inning to Illinois, the Wolfpack offense bounced back thanks to Sam Russ. On the first pitch of her at bat, Russ hit a home run over the center field fence for her first homer of the season. Forbes drew a walk in the two spot, before Randi Farricker doubled to left field for an NC State lead they would not relinquish.

The Wolfpack tacked on another run off the bat of Sam Russ in the bottom of the second, this time an RBI-double to center field that scored Carson Shaner from first.

The offense kept rolling as Angie Rizzi laid down a bunt single for Illinois before stealing both second and third base. After Skylar Johnston drew a walk, Illinois intentionally walked Russ with two outs to load the bases. A tough play at first yielded a single for Forbes, tacking on another run, before Morris cleared the bases with a double for the 7-1 lead.

Illinois threatned in both the sixth and seventh innings after Delaney Rummell hit her second solo shot of the day. Freshman Sam Gress closed out the game for NC State in the circle, pitching the seventh inning where Avrey Steiner reached third base on a pop up and wild pitch, following her infield single. Gress induced a game-ending fly out to right field.

UP NEXT
NC State concludes the Big 10/ACC Challenge with its final game Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m.

https://gopack.com/news/2020/2/16/softball-wolfpack-down-pair-of-big-ten-opponents.aspx

Final
Illinois 7
NC State 3

Need to update record as the Pack is 6-4 after win over Elon.

82TxPackFan said:

---

Need to update record as the Pack is 6-4 after win over Elon.

---

Thanks
I missed a game then over weekend

IMPORTANT UPDATE: All games today have been moved back ONE hour. Meaning we will play at 3:15 and 5:30 p.m.

Game 1
NC State 9
Bucknell 4

UP NEXT
NC State continues the weekend tournament with games against Indiana and Saint Joseph's on Saturday, Feb. 22

After going 2-0 yesterday, @PackSoftball returns to action at its home tournament today with games against Indiana (3 PM) and Saint Joseph's (5:30 PM)

https://t.co/ZTL1lIFMQ5

#GoPack // #NCState https://t.co/EM9xVoPVYG

The NC State softball team officially recorded its 10th win of the season after picking up a pair of victories Saturday evening at Dail Softball Stadium, extending its winning streak to five-straight. The Wolfpack outlasted Indiana in an eight-inning thriller, 2-1, before shutting out Saint Joseph's, 7-0.

UP NEXT
NC State looks to conclude its perfect weekend with a sixth-straight win Sunday against Bucknell at 12:30 p.m.

"I'm really proud of the team," @PackSoftball's Jennifer Patrick-Swift said. "They showed up and defended their home field. Every game we come out and expect to win. We swung big bats and pitchers threw really well over the weekend"
https://t.co/d2n1O49CyO