The offense was rolling in combination with stellar pitching for the NC State softball team, Saturday, as the Wolfpack shutout Gardner-Webb in both games of the team's doubleheader. NC State (7-2) won the first game, 6-0, before taking game two 7-0.

It was a home run heavy day, as the Pack totaled six between the two games for 11 of the team's 13 runs. Five total players hit home runs, led by Angie Rizzi's two while Taty Forbes went 4-for-5 on the day with a walk and stolen base.

NC State used three pitchers between the two games, with Sam Gress and Brooklyn Lucero each earning a start. It was the first pitching appearance of the season for Gress and the first of Lucero's career. Gress (1-0) pitched 6.0 shutout innings in game one where she allowed one hit with five strikeouts and two walks. Lucero (1-0) earned the win in game two, after pitching 5.0 innings. She allowed three hits with three strikeouts. Estelle Czech pitched in relief in both innings for a combined 3.0 innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.





GAME ONE RECAP
Rizzi wasted no time, giving NC State a 2-0 lead after the first inning on a deep hit home run over the right field fence. She scored Forbes who had hit a single directly before her.

Gress did not allow a hit through the first four innings before Weslyn Almond broke up the no-hitter. A walk to Trinity Sterret loaded the bases before Gress worked out of the jam with a strikeout and fly ball to center field.

NC State's offense would come right back with a two home run inning the sixth. Carson Shaner led off the frame for her second of the season, followed by the first for catcher Sam Sack who notched three RBIs with her swing of the bat.

Czech would give up the leadoff runner following an NC State error before retiring the final three in a row to close out the first shutout of the season for the Pack.

GAME TWO RECAP
It was the first career start for Lucero, who retired eight of the first nine batters she faced. She wouldn't allow a base runner in scoring position in her five innings pitched.

With two outs in the bottom of the third, Morris muscled in her third home run of the season for a 2-0 Wolfpack lead. The lead doubled with another home run, this one by the way of Kaylee Lambrecht in the bottom of the fourth. The home run was the first hit of Lambrecht's young career, making it the second-straight year NC State has had a freshman's first career hit be a home run, after Libby Whittaker also did so in 2020.

NC State added another run in the fourth when Sam Russ laid down a bunt single. Russ then stole second and scored on a throwing error by the Runnin' Bulldogs catcher. The offense showcase continued with three hits and two runs in the bottom of the fifth, including an inning lead off home run for Rizzi.

OF NOTE

• NC State has hit three home runs in four games already this season. NC State has a total of 18 home runs through nine games, averaging 2.00 per game.
• The Pack also has eight of its nine starters with at least one home run in 2021, while all nine have hit one in their career.

UP NEXT
NC State concludes its four-game series against Gardner-Webb tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 28 at 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX.

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Team Statistics

• Game 1
• Game 2

PITCHINGW: Sam Gress (1-0)L: LYON, Andrea (0-1)
Gardner-Webb
BATTINGSH: MITCHELL, Katie 1BASERUNNING:HBP: ALMOND, Weslyn 1; LYON, Andrea 2; GOODRUM, Abbey 1
NC State
BATTING:HR: Angie Rizzi 1; Carson Shaner 1; Sam Sack 1RBI: Angie Rizzi 2; Carson Shaner 1; Sam Sack 3BASERUNNING:RUNS: Tatyana Forbes 1; Angie Rizzi 1; Carson Shaner 1; Sam Gress 1; Gracie Roberts 1; Sam Sack 1SB: April Visser 1HBP: Sam Gress 1; April Visser 1

Game Leaders

• Game 1
• Game 2

Choose a category: Hitting Pitching Fielding

#16 Tatyana Forbes

• AB 3
• R 1
• H 2
• RBI 0

#42 Angie Rizzi

• AB 4
• R 1
• H 2
• RBI 2

#18 Sam Sack

• AB 3
• R 1
• H 2
• RBI 3

#10 Logan Morris

• AB 3
• R 0
• H 1
• RBI 0

The NC State softball team completed its 4-0 weekend with its third-straight shutout, Sunday afternoon, against Gardner-Webb. The Wolfpack won 8-0 in six innings on a walk-off RBI double by Logan Morris.

Abby Trahan started in the circle for the Wolfpack, making it the fifth pitcher the Wolfpack used over the weekend. Trahan (4-1) held Gardner-Webb to two hits in 5.0 innings pitched with six strikeouts. Sydney Nester pitched an inning of relief, where she struck out three and allowed one hit. As a pitching staff, NC State allowed just one run this weekend.

HOW IT HAPPENED
NC State started out strong with a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a two-RBI single by Carson Shaner that fell in shallow left field.

After leaving the bases loaded in the third inning, NC State's offense powered back with back-to-back RBI-singles from Sam Russ and Tatyana Forbes, extending the lead to 4-0.

NC State continued its hot hitting with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth. Following two leadoff walks, Brigette Nordberg pinch hit for a single to center field, loading the bases. Two sacrifice flies later and an RBI-single from Kaylee Lambrecht put the Wolfpack ahead, 7-0.

With Nester entering the game in the top of the sixth, Gardner-Webb threatened a scoring effort. The Runnin' Bulldogs loaded the bases on a single, walk and hit by pitch. Nester would strikeout back-to-back batters to escape the jam.

Angie Rizzi led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, setting up the walk-off opportunity for Morris to record her fourth extra-base hit of the season.


OF NOTE
Trahan has now struck out five or more in every game she has started this season.
NC State outscored Gardner-Webb 25-1 this weekend, averaging over six runs a game.
Morris has now reached base in every game this season for NC State, including a three-game hit streak.





Georgia Tech
Next Game:

Team Statistics
PITCHING
W: Abby Trahan (4-1)
L: PERRY, Brooke (0-3)

Gardner-Webb
BASERUNNING:
SB: STERRETT, Trinity 1
HBP: WACASTER, Jenna 1

NC State
BATTING:
2B: Logan Morris 1
RBI: Sam Russ 2; Tatyana Forbes 1; Logan Morris 1; Carson Shaner 2; Sam Sack 1; Kaylee Lambrecht 1
SF: Sam Russ 1; Sam Sack 1
BASERUNNING:
RUNS: Sam Russ 1; Tatyana Forbes 1; Angie Rizzi 2; Laine Marak 1; Sam Gress 1; Brigette Nordberg 1; Gracie Roberts 1
SB: Tatyana Forbes 1
HBP: Sam Gress 1

Game Leaders
Choose a category:
Hitting
Sam Russ
#3 Sam Russ
AB 3
R 1
H 1
RBI 2

Tatyana Forbes
#16 Tatyana Forbes
AB 3
R 1
H 1
RBI 1

Angie Rizzi
#42 Angie Rizzi
AB 2
R 2
H 1
RBI 0

Logan Morris
#10 Logan Morris
AB 4
R 0
H 1
RBI 1

UP NEXT
NC State returns to ACC action next weekend, with a four-game conference series against Georgia Tech. All four games will be broadcast on ACCNX.

Attendance at NC State softball events remains limited to players friends and family, only. In accordance with local health guidelines.

.@PackSoftball closed out a four-game sweep of Gardner-Webb Sunday without hitting a home run in the 8-0 win.

NC State outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs' 25-1 in the weekend series.
@bryanpyrtle
https://t.co/eOH6nB5CsA

WOLFPACK WINS!

We defeat VCU, 2-1, to move us to 4-0-1 on the season.

#GoPackBaby https://t.co/j0XU0qs9BY

The NC State softball team completed its 4-0 weekend with its third-straight shutout, Sunday afternoon, against Gardner-Webb. The Wolfpack won 8-0 in six innings on a walk-off RBI double by Logan Morris.

Abby Trahan started in the circle for the Wolfpack, making it the fifth pitcher the Wolfpack used over the weekend. Trahan (4-1) held Gardner-Webb to two hits in 5.0 innings pitched with six strikeouts. Sydney Nester pitched an inning of relief, where she struck out three and allowed one hit. As a pitching staff, NC State allowed just one run this weekend.

HOW IT HAPPENED
NC State started out strong with a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a two-RBI single by Carson Shaner that fell in shallow left field.

After leaving the bases loaded in the third inning, NC State's offense powered back with back-to-back RBI-singles from Sam Russ and Tatyana Forbes, extending the lead to 4-0.

NC State continued its hot hitting with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the fifth. Following two leadoff walks, Brigette Nordberg pinch hit for a single to center field, loading the bases. Two sacrifice flies later and an RBI-single from Kaylee Lambrecht put the Wolfpack ahead, 7-0.

With Nester entering the game in the top of the sixth, Gardner-Webb threatened a scoring effort. The Runnin' Bulldogs loaded the bases on a single, walk and hit by pitch. Nester would strikeout back-to-back batters to escape the jam.

Angie Rizzi led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, setting up the walk-off opportunity for Morris to record her fourth extra-base hit of the season.


UP NEXT
NC State returns to ACC action next weekend, with a four-game conference series against Georgia Tech. All four games will be broadcast on ACCNX.

Attendance at NC State softball events remains limited to players friends and family, only. In accordance with local health guidelines.

Show us a catcher hotter than @sack_sam right now.

Last weekend she hit .625 with five hits, a home run and four RBI. Oh, and she held it down behind the plate pretty nicely as well

Georgia Tech sits at the bottom of the ACC at 0-6, in addition to its 10-game losing streak, while @PackSoftball has won 4 in a row.

Tricia Awald leads GT in batting average (.429) and is 3rd in the ACC for home runs (4).
@katpeters15
https://t.co/HTg4JiT1Gs

The NC State softball team will look to win its fifth-straight ACC series, dating back to 2019, as they host Georgia Tech this weekend, March 5-7, for a four-game conference series. The weekend begins March 5 at 6 p.m., followed by a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. before concluding Sunday, March 7 at 12 p.m. All four games will be broadcast on ACCNX.

Attendance at NC State Softball games continues to be limited to player and coach guests only.

SCOUTING GEORGIA TECH
Georgia Tech is still looking for its first conference win, dropping its last 10 games. The Yellow Jackets are led by Preseason All-ACC selection, Breanna Roper, and two-time All-ACC honoree, Cameron Stanford. Tricia Awald currently leads Georgia Tech (5-10, 0-6 ACC) with a .429 batting average and four home runs. Blake Neleman has three of Tech's five wins in the circle, including a team-best 38 strikeouts. As a team, Georgia Tech ranks 10th in the nation with 23 doubles, averaging 1.53 per game.

Georgia Tech holds the 30-17 overall lead in the series, however, the series has been much closer when played in Raleigh. The Yellow Jackets hold a narrow 10-9 advantage when playing on the road against the Pack.

NC State has not played Georgia Tech since 2018, making this the first time as a head coach, Jennifer Patrick-Swift will face the Yellow Jackets.

The NC State softball team was balanced on all cylinders, winning its fifth-straight game in its ACC series opener against Georgia Tech. The Wolfpack won 7-4 on eight hits in the first meeting between the two programs since March 18, 2018.

The top of the lineup continues to be dangerous for NC State (9-2, 5-2 ACC), as the Pack's 1-2-3 hitters collected two hits apiece. Angie Rizzi went 2-for-2 on the day with a home run, two RBI and a walk.

Sydney Nester earned the win after pitching 6.2 innings of relief. Nester (3-1) allowed one unearned run and four hits while striking out eight.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Georgia Tech came out quick with its offense, taking two home runs and a 3-0 lead off NC State starting pitcher, Abby Trahan. Nester entered in relief and quickly shut them down and would only allow one unearned run from the Yellow Jackets the remainder of the game.

The Wolfpack jumped on several Georgia Tech miscues in the bottom half of the frame, scoring four runs without a hit in the bottom of the first. The runs came thanks to four-straight walks, a wild pitch and a Yellow Jacket throwing error.

The lead doubled for NC State in the second inning, 6-3, thanks to Rizzi's two-run home run. After giving a run back to Georgia Tech, back-to-back singles by Sam Russ and Tatyana Forbes scored the seventh run of the night for NC State.

Down to its last three outs, Georgia Tech would draw a walk to put a runner on base before Nester recorded back-to-back strikeouts, sealing her third win of the season.

OF NOTE
Friday night's win evens the series between the two teams, 10-10, when the game is played in Raleigh.

Rizzi now leads the Wolfpack with four home runs on the season. The senior is batting .438 and six of her 14 hits this season have been for extra bases.
Sam Russ collected two stolen bases, bringing her career total to 79, just seven shy of tying the school career stolen base record.

Logan Morris extended her on-base streak to 11 games, every game thus far in 2021. Forbes also extended her team-best hitting streak to eight games.

NC State is now one of two teams in the ACC to pick up its fifth conference win and owns the second longest win streak in the ACC, behind Duke who has now won eight straight.

PITCHING
W: Sydney Nester (3-1)
L: Blake Neleman (3-3)

Georgia Tech
BATTING
HR: Breanna Roper 1; Tricia Awald 1
RBI: Breanna Roper 1; Tricia Awald 2

BASERUNNING:
RUNS: Breanna Roper 1; Cameron Stanford 2; Tricia Awald 1

BATTING:
2B: Randi Farricker 1
HR: Angie Rizzi 1
RBI: Tatyana Forbes 1; Angie Rizzi 2; Logan Morris 1

BASERUNNING:
RUNS: Sam Russ 2; Tatyana Forbes 2; Angie Rizzi 2; Logan Morris 1
SB: Sam Russ 2; Angie Rizzi 1; Sam Gress 1
HBP: Sam Gress 1


UP NEXT
NC State continues its four-game series against Georgia Tech, with a chance to take the series Saturday with a doubleheader. Game 1 will begin at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ACCNX.

.@PackSoftball won 7-4 in the opening game of its series with Georgia Tech.

HC Patrick-Swift: "I think our defense was huge tonight. Any time they got something going offensively, we shut it down."
@rachelmichele15 & @katpeters15
https://t.co/WEAXUt4TqL

It was an offense-powered day for the NC State softball team as the Wolfpack scored a total of 18 runs in a doubleheader against Georgia Tech. NC State (10-3, 6-3 ACC) split the day, including a seventh-inning walk off victory in game one. The Wolfpack won the opening game of the day, 8-7, before dropping a tough 12-10 matchup in game two.

Angie Rizzi led NC State, going 2-for-4 on the day with a home run, three RBI and four walks. The senior also stole three bases. Six different players for NC State recorded at least three hits between the two games combined, including three hits by Randi Farricker in the Wolfpack win.

NC State used all five of its pitchers on Saturday, with Abby Trahan picking up the win in game one. Trahan (5-1) entered in relief in the fifth inning and would not allow a run through her 2.1 innings pitched.

GAME 1 RECAP
Similar to Friday's win, the Wolfpack would play from behind early as Georgia Tech went up 4-0 in the top of the first. An RBI single in the first by Tatyana Forbes, followed by a solo home run from Farricker in the second would cut Tech's lead to two, 4-2.

After NC State tied the game in the third, Georgia Tech would build up a three-run lead, 7-4, on an RBI double and a two-run home run. The Wolfpack got one back on its own RBI double, this one coming from Farricker.

Farricker also came up big with a lead off home run to open the bottom of the seventh. As a pinch hitter with one out, Brigette Nordberg sent a fly out to right field, advancing pinch runner Laine Marak to third. Marak tied the game on a throwing error by the right fielder seconds before Same Russ hit her second walk off home run of the season, winning NC State's sixth-straight game.

GAME 2 RECAP
It was another high scoring affair, with both teams scoring a combined five runs in the first inning. Georgia Tech would score another three in the second for a 5-3 lead in the game. Morris tied the game in the third inning with a two-RBI single before a huge fourth inning put NC State up 10-6.

The five run fourth inning came thanks to back-to-back RBI singles by Russ and Forbes, while Rizzi then hit her fifth home run of the season. Down to two outs in the top of the seventh, Georgia Tech extended several long at bats, scoring four hits on six runs including a grand slam.

OF NOTE
Farricker's two home runs in the first game where the first multi-home run game for an NC State player this season.
Rizzi and Morris lead NC State in RBI with 16 and 14, respectively. The pair has notched double-digit RBI in just 13 games this season.
NC State totaled four home runs between the two games, including three in the win. The first game of the double header marked the eighth game of the season for NC State with two or more home runs.

UP NEXT
NC State will have a chance to win the series Sunday in the final game of the weekend against Georgia Tech. The game is scheduled to be played at 12 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACCNX.

Sam Russ hit her second walk off home run, in just as many days, to launch NC State softball to a 5-2 win, clinching the weekend series over Georgia Tech. NC State (11-3, 7-3 ACC) has now won an ACC-best five-straight conference series.

Sam Russ leads the Wolfpack with five home runs on the season and was 2-for-3 at the plate Sunday with three RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base.

Abby Trahan became the fourth ACC pitcher this season to eclipse six or more wins, earning the win after pitching 3.0 innings of relief. Trahan (6-1) did not allow a run on three hits and three strikeouts. Sydney Nester started the game, pitching a solid 4.0 innings where she struck out four while allowing two runs on four hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Randi Farricker continued her hot weekend as well, hitting a solo home run in the top of the second to give NC State a 1-0 lead. Georgia Tech had a response in the next half inning, tying it 1-1 in the third with a solo home run themselves. A second home run for the Yellow Jackets gave them a 2-1 lead.

After being held to just one hit through the first five innings, NC State tied up the game with back-to-back doubles in the sixth inning by Russ and Tatyana Forbes.

Georgia Tech threatened in the top of the seventh, drawing a hit by pitch and a single to put runners at first and second. Trahan came back strong with three strikes to send the Yellow Jackets down, setting up the walk off opportunity for NC State.

Sam Sack hit a lead off single, before Georgia Tech would retire the next two batters. Kaylee Lambrecht took a hit by pitch to keep the inning alive, and set up the three-run home run by Russ.

OF NOTE
NC State moves to 42-3 under Jennifer Patrick-Swift when scoring first.
The Wolfpack now have three walk off wins on the season, all three coming from Russ.
NC State last lost an ACC series April 28, 2019.

UP NEXT
NC State's conference series win-streak will be put to the test next weekend against #15/14 Virginia Tech. The Wolfpack will host them for a three-game series, March 12-14. Three of the four games will be broadcast on ACC Network, with the remaining game available on ACCNX.

Sam Russ hit her 2nd walk-off homer of the weekend to secure @PackSoftball a 5-2 win.

Russ: "I was locked in, ready for the chance to walk the game off I knew she was going to come back in with another strike, so I was ready for it."
@bryanpyrtle
https://t.co/kzYa5KfQoZ

After 2 walk-off wins in a 3-1 weekend and an 11-3 start overall, @rachelmichele15 takes a look at the major @PackSoftball takeaways:

Giving Up Runs Early
ACC Success
Home Run Mindset
Sam Russ
https://t.co/5zZXN9h2TZ

.@PackSoftball needs to build on early success to get by No. 16 Virginia Tech this weekend.

The Hokies (7-2) secured 2 wins in 3 games against both No. 25 Clemson and No. 15 Florida State.
@katpeters15
https://t.co/dGka9eDy9Z

NC State softball welcomes #16/15 Virginia Tech to Raleigh this weekend for a highly anticipated ACC series. NC State (11-3, 7-3) looks to extend its ACC series win streak, after winning its fifth-straight series last weekend against Georgia Tech. The four-game conference series will be the Wolfpack's first test against a ranked opponent this season.

The weekend opens Friday, March 12 at 5 p.m. on ACC Network. The two teams will play a Saturday doubleheader, with the first of the two games on ACC Network and the second available on ACCNX. The series will wrap up with a Sunday 2 p.m. finale.

The matchup will face off NC State's top-ranked batting average versus Virginia Tech's top-ranked ERA in the ACC. Attendance at NC State softball games continues to be limited to player and staff guests only.

A LOOK AT VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech (7-2, 4-2 ACC) was picked as one of the preseason favorites in the ACC, garnering four first-place votes and being selected second overall. The Hokies went 21-4 a year ago, including three top-25 wins and a 3-0 conference record.

The Hokies lead the ACC and rank 10th nationally with a 1.09 team ERA. The pitching staff is highlighted by Keely Rochard who has held opponents to a 0.57 ERA, 26th best in the country. Rochard has pitched 37.0 of the team's 58.0 innings this season. True freshman Cameron Fagan leads the Hokies offense with a .387 batting average. She has 12 hits in nine games this season with one home run and seven RBI.

final
Virginia Tech 4
NC State 2

.@PackSoftball struck out 12 times in its 4-2 loss to the Hokies.

Brigette Nordberg: "We're watching too many strikes go by, which is not what we do as hitters. We're supposed to attack any pitch in the zone."
@bryanpyrtle
https://t.co/XElaKiiNGu

final in 5 innings (run rule)
NC State 8
Virginia Tech 0

T4 | Nester gets out of the inning after Virginia Tech further extends its lead.

NC State 2, VT 5

Saturday game 2
series game 3

Virginia Tech leads 12-2
middle of 6

Saturday game 2
series game 3

Virginia Tech 12-2
final