.@PackSoftball split its doubleheader against VT, winning 8-0 to start the day before losing 12-2 in the second game.

The Wolfpack has a chance to even the series up at 2 apiece on Sunday at 2 p.m.
@bryanpyrtle
https://t.co/6CvQor9m99

In a tightly contested matchup, NC State was edged out by #16/15 Virginia Tech in the ACC series opener Friday evening at Dail Softall Stadium. The series will continue tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.

Logan Morris was the offense highlight of the day, with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first that scored both runs for NC State. Tatyana Forbes led the Pack with a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 on the day with a run scored and an RBI.

Sydney Nester earned the start in the circle, pitching a solid 3.2 innings. Nester (3-3) gave up four runs on five hits with one strikeout. Abby Trahan pitched 3.1 innings of lights out release, not allowing a base runner.

HOW IT HAPPENED
NC State jumped out to the early 2-0 lead on the fourth home run of the season by Logan Morris. Virginia Tech drew three walks in the third inning, all of which turned into runs for its 3-1 lead. An RBI-double followed by a two-RBI single completed the three hit, three run top of the third. The Hokies tacked on an additional run with another single in the top of the fourth.

The Wolfpack had chances in the bottom of the sixth and the seventh, drawing walks to put runners on first and second in both innings, but were unable to score.

Keely Rochard had the complete game for Virginia Tech going all seven innings.

OF NOTE

• Morris' home run was only the third Virginia Tech's pitching staff has given up all season.
• Forbes extended her team-best hitting streak to 12 games.

UP NEXT
The series continues with a doubleheader Saturday, March 13 beginning at 12 p.m. Game 1 of the doubleheader will be on ACC Network followed by the second game being available on ACCNX.

NC State Softball had a statement win Saturday afternoon as it took down #16/15 Virginia Tech, 8-0, in five-innings, tying the program best margin of victory over a ranked opponent. With a 3-0 lead, NC State (12-5, 8-5 ACC)'s monster five-run fifth inning, which included back-to-back home runs, ended the game in run-rule fashion.

Virginia Tech would come back with a six-inning, 12-2, win in the second game of the doubleheader. The series finale is set for Sunday, March 14 at 2 p.m. on ACC Network.

Abby Trahan took control in the victory, pitching a shutout five innings where she sent down the first seven batters she faced. Trahan (7-2) earned her first complete of the season where she allowed five hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

Randi Farricker's bat was hot in the first game of the day, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, a triple and four RBI. Farricker now leads NC State with seven home runs this season, and the only Wolfpack player to have a multi-home run game doing so twice now.

GAME 1 RECAP
For the second consecutive game, NC State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Logan Morris led off the second inning for the Pack with a double, setting up Farricker's triple to easily score Morris from second. NC State tacked on its second run of the frame with an RBI by Carson Shaner, who pinch hit.

Virginia Tech loaded the bases with three singles in the third inning, before a fielder's choice and fly out to right field ended the inning. The Hokies would get only one more runner into scoring position in the final two innings.

Kaylee Lambrecht led off the jam-packed action in the fifth with an infield single. A walk to Sam Russ, followed by a single by Angie Rizzi loaded the bases. Morris dropped a single into left field, scoring two runs. The game ended on back-to-back home runs by Farricker and Sam Sack.

GAME 2 RECAP
For the first time in the series, Virginia Tech scored first striking in the first inning with two RBI-hits that gave the Hokies a 2-0 lead. NC State wasted no time, tying the game in the bottom half of the frame. After Sam Russ reached base on a catcher's interference, she stole second for her 84th career stolen base. Tatyana Forbes would triple to center field to cut into Virginia Tech's lead, before a sac fly by Sack tied the game, 2-2.

Despite drawing eight walks by Hokie pitcher, Keely Rochard, NC State was unable to piece together any additional runs. Already holding a 7-2 lead, Virginia Tech would unleash five runs in the sixth inning for the win.

OF NOTE

• Abby Trahan and the NC State defense are the first team to shut out Virginia Tech in the 2021 season. Virginia Tech had not been shutout since Apr. 20, 2019.
• NC State maintains a 22-20 lead in the all-time series between the two teams.
• The shutout win marked the first shutout for NC State over a ranked opponent since May 16, 2015 where the Pack did so against #17 James Madison with a 2-0 win.

Next Game:
Virginia Tech
3/14/2021 | 2:00 PM
ACCN

ACC Standings

Duke 7-1

Clemson 8-2

unc-ch, Virginia Tech 6-3

Florida State 4-2

Louisville 3-2

NC State 7-5

Syracuse 2-2

Notre Dame 3-4

Pittsburgh 3-5

Boston College 1-4

Virginia 2-10

Boston College 2-10

top of 5th
Virginia Tech 5
NC State 4

middle of 5th
Virginia Tech 17
NC State 4

Wolfer79 said:

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top of 5th
Virginia Tech 5
NC State 4

middle of 5th
Virginia Tech 17
NC State 4

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Yikes, that got away from them in a hurry...

89_Grad said:

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Wolfer79 said:

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top of 5th
Virginia Tech 5
NC State 4

middle of 5th
Virginia Tech 17
NC State 4

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Yikes, that got away from them in a hurry...

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it was 12-4 before 1st out of 5th

final after 5 due to mercy rule

Virginia Tech 17
NC State 4

.@PackSoftball lost 17-4 to end its four-game series against Virginia Tech.

The Hokies put up a 12-run fifth inning to slam the door on the Wolfpack.
@bryanpyrtle
https://t.co/iJnGDTMQFt

NC State dropped its series finale to #16/15 Virginia Tech Sunday afternoon, 17-4, at Dail Softball Stadium. The Wolfpack move to 12-6 on the season with an 8-6 ACC record.

NC State had a strong start offensively, despite going down early 0-3, with a three-run home run by Sam Sack into center field in the bottom of the second. Virginia Tech came back in the third inning and eventually took the lead for good with a single and home run.

Logan Morris cut into the Hokies lead with a solo shot in the bottom half of the frame, however, the Wolfpacks offense would be held off the board the remainder of the game. After sending Virginia Tech down in order in the fourth inning, the Hokies bats came out with a 12-run fifth inning.

Sydney Nester took the decision after pitching 2.1 innings of relief. Nester (3-4) allowed five runs on six hits with one strikeout. Abby Trahan pitched 2.0 innings, including her eighth start of the season.

OF NOTE

• The Pack eclipsed 30 home runs on the 2021 season, doing so in just 18 games. The team is just eight away from cracking the top-10 season record at NC State.
• NC State is the only team this season to hit multiple home runs off Virginia Tech's Keely Rochard. The Wolfpack hit two Sunday and also had one in the series opener on Friday. Rochard had only given up one home run this season prior to facing the Wolfpack.

Next Game: at Virginia 3/19/2021 | 5:00 PM

Schedule Update

This weekend's series against UVA has been moved to Saturday-Sunday-Monday due to weather.

https://t.co/w0BzBrjwqd https://t.co/UV5KQs3yI6

Despite going 1-3 against VT last weekend, @PackSoftball should bounce back against UVA.

Virginia is on an eight-game losing streak, getting outscored 52-20 in that span vs. Clemson and Duke.
https://t.co/baq3M61DZJ

For the first time in 2021, the NC State softball team is set for a road test. The Wolfpack is set to take on Virginia in a four-game series, Saturday, March 20-22. It will be the first ACC road game for NC State in 699 days.

The adjusted weekend schedule opens Saturday, March 20 with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The two teams will then meet Sunday, March 21 at 1 p.m. followed by the series finale Monday at 2 p.m. All four games will be available on ACCNX.

A LOOK AT VIRGINIA
Despite holding a 6-13 and 2-11 ACC record, Virginia is coming off a four-game series at Duke where they forced a nine-inning game and lost the first three games by a combined seven runs. Both of Virginia's conference wins this season came against Pitt in early February.

The Cavaliers are led by Katie Goldberg who was a team-best .353 batting average with five doubles and three home runs. Donna Friedman ranks second in the ACC in doubles with seven on the season.

Virginia has used six pitchers throughout the season, with three who have pitched 20 or more innings. Mikayla Hogue has the most innings with 36.2 and a 2-4 record. As a team, the Cavaliers have a 4.23ERA and .247 batting average.

game 1
Virginia 4
NC State 2

game 2
NC State 6
Virginia 4

The NC State softball team split Saturday's doubleheader against Virginia in the Pack's first road test of 2021. NC State (13-7, 9-7 ACC) dropped the opening game of the series, 4-2, before firing back with a 6-4 win to end the day. The series continues tomorrow, Sunday, March 21 with a 1 p.m. matchup on ACCNX.

Kaylee Lambrecht led NC State (13-7, 9-7 ACC) in the win, collecting her first career multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch and an RBI. She has now recorded a hit in four of the team's last five games.

Sydney Nester collected the win in the circle, pitching her third complete game of the season. Nester (4-4) allowed four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts.

GAME 1 RECAP
Virginia struck early with three runs in the first two innings, thanks to a home run and an RBI double.

NC State pieced a run together in the top of the third, thanks to a little small ball. After Haley Haislip drew a hit by pitch to lead off the inning, pinch runner April Visser stole second and then moved to third on a sac bunt. A bunt single by Russ cut Virginia's lead to 3-1.

The Cavaliers picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single. After a walk loaded the bases for Virginia, Estelle Czech entered in relief, striking out a batter in four pitches to end the scoring threat.

Sam Sack delivered the RBI in the sixth with a ball that nearly left the park but turned into a stand up double, scoring Angie Rizzi easily from third.

Abby Trahan started game one, pitching 4.2 innings where she allowed four runs on seven hits. Trahan (7-3) struck out four before Czech entered in relief. Czech made the most of her 1.1 innings of work, striking out two and allowing just one hit with no walks.

GAME 2 RECAP
It was once again an early lead for Virginia, with them jumping ahead 4-0. The Wolfpack would go on to score six unanswered runs, however, for its first road victory of the season.

NC State got it done in untraditional style for themselves as four of the team's six RBIs came on singles. The scoring started in the top of the third as NC State loaded the bases with a hit by pitch, fielder's choice and infield single. Angie Rizzi brought two runs across on a double to left center, before Logan Morris knocked in the remaining two base runners with a single down the line.

Libby Whittaker and Kaylee Lambrecht brought in the additional runs with RBI singles in the top of the fifth inning.

OF NOTE

• Saturday marked NC State's first ACC road game in 699 days. It is the first true road match for NC State since the 2019 season where the Pack went 9-9 on the road.
• Nester earned her 28th career-win in the circle Saturday. She is now two wins away from moving into the top-five all-time at NC State.
• Angie Rizzi extended her team-best on-base streak to 14 games.
• Lambrecht became the ninth NC State athlete to have a multi-hit game this season.

final
Virginia 2
NC State 0

NC State 5
Virginia 0
final

.@PackSoftball split its four-game weekend series with Virginia, winning games 2 and 4.

Estelle Czech had a very good weekend, appearing in 3 games and throwing 12.1 innings without allowing an earned run.
@bryanpyrtle
https://t.co/1RvdtaxPls

After starting at 10-2 to begin the year, @PackSoftball has dropped 6 of its last 10 games. Staff writer @bryanpyrtle offers his takeaways thus far, including:

Good quality in batter's box
Bottom 3rd of lineup needs to improve
Pitching staff and control
https://t.co/8mYVXAnXuf

Last weekend, @PackSoftball held Virginia to less than 5 runs in all four games but went 2-2.

NC State will need a better showing at the plate against a strong Notre Dame offense.
@katpeters15
https://t.co/NydQ8mwtl1

Following Patrick-Swift from St. Francis, it's Trahan's 4th year under the coach.

@PackSoftball's Trahan: "If we're hitting two home runs a game, we're already winning by two runs and that's taking a lot of the load off of my job."
@bryanpyrtle
https://t.co/3BnOcCgKdI

Notre Dame 6
NC State 5
final

Saturday's doubleheader has been moved up to a 12 p.m. start time.

Saturday game 1
Notre Dame 8
NC State 0
5 inning mercy rule

Saturday game 2
Notre Dame 7
NC State 6

Today's series finale against Notre Dame has been canceled due to the ACC Weather Protocol.

NC State will return home April 2-3 against North Carolina A&T.

https://t.co/SZTMRdpCEM https://t.co/CsvZ9aeHkZ