!

We've added a midweek doubleheader against Furman at Dail Softball Stadium on April 21. The DH will begin at 1 p.m.

https://t.co/jiiGSci6y8 https://t.co/iMji2jmm4J

After splitting 4 games with Virginia and getting swept by Notre Dame, @PackSoftball hosts the 7-17 N.C. A&T Aggies.

N.C. A&T has struggled from the circle this year, lacking a pitcher with an ERA under 5.00.
@katpeters15
https://t.co/tk4QCwEs2x

After a two-week road stint, the NC State softball team returns home this weekend for a non-conference series against in-state opponent, North Carolina A&T. The series kicks off Friday, Apr. 2 at 12 p.m. for a doubleheader before concluding Saturday at 12 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on ACCNX.

Attendance at NC State softball games continues to be limited to player and staff guests only.

A LOOK AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T
North Carolina A&T has been out of action the last week, however, the Aggies are coming off a 3-1 series win against MEAC opponent, Florida A&M. North Carolina A&T concluded that series with a walk-off home run for the 8-6 win. The Aggies are led by head coach Patti Radunez who is in her second season at A&T, after a shortened 2020 campaign. Radunez is familiar with the ACC, previously coaching as an assistant at North Carolina.

Alyxx Estrada and Kendall Maccauley lead the Aggies, both with a .397 batting average. Estrada also has a team-best .635 slugging percentage and four triples while her .494 on-base percentage leads the MEAC. In the pitching circle, S'Nyiah Stinson and Kiara Richards have split most of the time, having 53.1 and 52.2 innings pitched, respectively. Stinson has a team-best 5.57 ERA with a 3-6 record and 32 strikeouts.

game 1
NC State 8
NC A&T 0
5 inning rule

game 2
NC State 14
NC A&T 1

A strong, balanced offensive attack led the NC State softball team to a pair of wins Friday against North Carolina A&T. Excellent pitching and a balanced offensive effort pushed NC State (16-11) to the six-inning 8-0 win in game one, followed by a 14-1 five-inning victory in the second game.

Sam Russ became the Wolfpack's all-time leader in career stolen bases following two in the first game. Russ ended the day with 88 in her career and she keeps adding to her school record. The junior also holds NC State's single-season record with 32 in 2019 and is 17-of-19 this season.

Angie Rizzi went 2-for-6 on the day, with five runs scored, three RBI and a home run. Rizzi was one of five different members of the Pack to hit a home run in the second game. Libby Whittaker had an outstanding performance in game two, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored.

Abby Trahan started in the circle in game on for NC State. Trahan (8-4) pitched the complete shutout 6.0 innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts, one hit and one walk. Sydney Nester continued the stellar effort in the circle, picking up her fifth win of the season in game two. Nester (5-6) threw 4.0 innings where she allowed one run on one hit with six strikeouts and one walk. Brooklyn Lucero pitched a shutout inning of relief.

GAME ONE RECAP
Both offenses were relatively quiet in the first inning as neither team notched a hit or run, however, NC State's offense came alive in the second inning as the Wolfpack tallied five runs on five hits for an early 5-0 lead.

After three consecutive hitless innings, NC State gained momentum behind singles by Rizzi and Russ. Rizzi came around to score on a wild pitch, increasing the Wolfpack's lead to 6-0, before an RBI-double by Sam Sack increased the lead to 7-0. The game ending run scored on an error by the Aggies' centerfielder, scoring pinch runner Kelsey O'Connor from third.

GAME TWO RECAP
NC State had its best offensive performance of the season, with season-best runs scored, hits and home runs. The game was notched 1-1 after the first inning, NC State rallied with 14 unanswered runs for its second-straight run-rule victory.

With a 8-1 lead, NC State unleashed for six runs on five hits in the fourth inning including three home runs. The inning started in exciting fashion, as Madeline Curtis pinch hit and notched her first career home run. The Wolfpack then loaded the bases on a singles by Whittaker and Rizzi and a walk to Kaylee Lambrecht. A wild pitch plated a run before Russ and Farricker hit home runs to bring the run total to 14.

OF NOTE
Russ' career record came in the sixth inning of the first game, recording her 87th stolen base. Russ passed Shanna Smith who played for the Wolfpack in 2005-08. Russ reached the mark in only 156 career games, 105 fewer than Smith.

NC State's five home runs in game two ties for the fifth most in a single game in school history. It is also tied for the eighth most in the NCAA this season, and the second most by an ACC team. All five home runs came by different players, including three in the fourth inning.

The three home runs in an inning were the most for NC State since March 12, 2019 against Charleston Southern where the Pack hit three in the eighth inning.

Fifth time in program history NC State has had five or more individual players record a home run in a single game. The most ever came March 2, 2013 against North Carolina A&T with six.
NC State now has 12 players with at least one home run this season, including five with five or more.

final
NC State 17
NC A&T 1

.@PackSoftball finished its sweep against N.C. A&T Saturday, outscoring the Aggies 39-2 in 3 games.

The Pack scored 3 or more runs in every inning, including 5 runs on 5 hits in the bottom of the 3rd en route to its blowout win.
@bryanpyrtle
https://t.co/UmUkVl4R9l

On the way to a weekend sweep over North Carolina A&T, Randi Farricker tied a program single-game record with three home runs Saturday afternoon at Dail Softball Stadium in NC State's 17-1 win. The Wolfpack posted the third-most runs scored in a single game in program history and the most since April 21, 2015.

NC State (17-11) totaled five home runs for the second-straight game as Sam Sack contributed the other two home runs. Farricker's three home run game makes her the third Wolfpack player all-time to do so, joining Brigette Nordberg and Molly Hutchison. It also ties an NCAA single-game best for the 2021 season and adds to her ACC leading number of 12 on the season.

Logan Morris contributed heavily, going 3-for-3 and driving in five RBIs. Morris now holds the ACC lead with 33 on the season.

The Wolfpack once again got another solid effort in the circle by its pitching staff. Brooklyn Lucero earned her third start of the season. Lucero (2-0) tossed 3.2 innings where she allowed one run on four hits with one walk. Sam Gress threw 1.1 innings of relief in her first pitching appearance in nearly a month.

OF NOTE
The Wolfpack recorded back-to-back five home run games for the first time since hitting eight and seven, respectively, against Boston College in 2013.

NC State now has 47 home runs through 28 games. The mark is good enough for eighth all-time in a single-season in program history.
Sack and Farricker twice went back-to-back with their home runs, in the second and fourth inning.
Tatyana Forbes was also perfect on the day, going 2-for-2, while Madeline Curtis had a solid performance with a 2-for-3 outing.


Next Game:
Pitt
4/9/2021 | 6:00 PM
ACCNX

With a series against No. 6 LSU on the horizon, @bryanpyrtle offers his takeaways of recent @PackSoftball play, including:

Hot bats keeping Pack afloat
Emerging platoon players
Pitching breakdown
https://t.co/ELIBwaWE4p

Getting down to the last 4 ACC series, @PackSoftball is ready to make a push in the conference standings.

The Pitt Panthers travel to Raleigh this weekend having lost 9 of its last 10 games.
@rachelmichele15
https://t.co/xQURJvw4Wy

Following a non-conference sweep last weekend, the NC State softball team resumes Atlantic Coast Conference action this weekend, April 9-11, at Dail Softball Stadium against Pitt. The series opens Friday evening at 6 p.m. on ACCNX, followed by a Saturday 12 p.m. doubleheader on RSN. Sunday's series finale is set for 5 p.m. on ACC Network. Attendance at NC State softball events remains limited to player and staff guests only.

RSN AFFILIATES (SATURDAY)
ACCNX stream will only be available for those out of market.
Fox Sports South
YES (Delay Broadcast)
NESN Plus
AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Marquee
MASN
Fox Sports Southwest Plus - TX, LA


A LOOK AT PITT
Pitt (10-20, 5-15 ACC) enters the weekend looking for its first ACC series win of the season. The Panthers most recently went 1-3 against Louisville last weekend, with its lone win coming in a 9-7 victory. The team's best weekend series came against Georgia Tech where they split, 2-2, including an eight-run seventh inning, 9-8, comeback win.

Freshman Cami Compson currently leads the Panthers with a team-best .338 batting average and seven home runs. Pitt has solid speed on the base paths as EC Taylor leads the ACC with 24 stolen bases this season, a mark that ranks directly above NC State's Angie Rizzi and Sam Russ, who became NC State's all-time career stolen base leader last weekend. .

In the circle, Abby Edwards and Brittany Knight have seen a bulk of the innings with 67.1 and 70.2, respectively. Edwards has a team-best 4.05 ERA while Knight has 54 strikeouts.

Led by Sydney Nester, the NC State softball team came out on the winning end of a pitcher's duel in the series opener against Pitt, Friday evening in Dail Softball Stadium. Nester pitched her fifth complete game of the 2021 season, holding Pitt without a run.

Nester (6-6) tossed 7.0 scoreless innings where she allowed three hits with seven strikeouts, and did not walk a batter. It was the fourth shutout of Nester's career, moving her into a tie for seventh all-time at NC State.

The four-game series continues with a doubleheader, Saturday, April 10. The doubleheader begins at 12 p.m. and will be broadcast on RSN.

GAME RECAP
Pitt threatened early with a two-out triple in the first inning, before Nester forced the groundout. The triple by Pitt's Morgan Batesole would be the only runner to advance past second base for the Panthers.

After Nester sent Pitt's lineup down in order in the second inning, NC State drew a lead off walk by Sam Sack but was unable to bring in the run. The Pack drew two more base runners over the next three innings, but was held scoreless by Pitt's Abby Edwards.

With the heart of its order up to bat, NC State took advantage in the sixth inning producing both runs on the swing of Randi Farricker. With one out, Sam Russ laid down a bunt single before reaching second on a stolen base. Sam Sack had a well hit ball, forcing a Pitt error that loaded the bases before Farricker singled up the middle for two RBI.

The two runs was all Nester needed as she closed out the game with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh.

OF NOTE
Nester's performance moved her up in several NC State career pitching categories including the 30th win of her career, tying for fifth all-time.
Russ continued her stolen base dominance, registering the 90th of her career. It also marked NC State's 57th of the season, just three shy of the school single-season record.
Friday marked NC State's first win of the season when scoring less than two runs

The four-game series continues with a doubleheader, Saturday, April 10. The doubleheader begins at 12 p.m. and will be broadcast on RSN.

Saturday game 1
NC State 7
Pittsburgh 3

Saturday game 2
NC State 9
Pittsburgh 1

Sunday
NC State 4
Pittsburgh 0

Trahan fanned 4 in the 1st inning to kickstart her 11-K complete-game shutout for @PackSoftball.

Trahan: "I use the first inning to settle in and get comfortable. It really sets the tone, not just for myself but for the team."
@bryanpyrtle
https://t.co/5zMRf4jiT8

The NC State softball team completed its four-game, weekend sweep of the Pitt Panthers Sunday evening, winning its seventh-straight game. The Pack did so on a trio of home runs and a lights out performance in the circle by Abby Trahan.

NC State (21-11, 14-11 ACC) scored every run by the way of the long ball, with Madeline Curtis, Randi Farricker and Libby Whittaker all notching home runs. The Pack now has 54 on the season, which already ranks eighth all-time in program history.

Trahan (10-4) earned her 10th win of the season with a complete game shutout. The senior allowed three hits and tied her season-high with 11 strikeouts and no walks.

GAME RECAP
Trahan started the game lights out, with four strikeouts in the first inning due to a dropped third strike and continued her dominance from there. She would not allow a runner to advance past first base in the complete game.

NC State wasted little time taking a lead, on a solo home run from Madeline Curtis in the second inning. The home runs continued with two in the fourth inning. Randi Farricker sent a one-out solo shot to center field for her ACC-best 13th of the season.

After a fielder's choice allowed Curtis to reach first base, Libby Whittaker launched her second of the weekend and third of the season for a 4-0 lead. Trahan would continue to shut down the Pitt offense, not allowing another base runner in the final three innings of the game.

OF NOTE
Curtis, who hit her first career home run last weekend against North Carolina A&T, now has two in just as many weeks as she has settled into the NC State lineup, starting all four games of the weekend.
Farricker's 13 home runs officially ties for ninth in a single-season at NC State. She is two away from reaching top-five. It was also the 25th of her career, including 21 at NC State.
NC State is 51-6 under head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift when scoring first, including 15-4.

UP NEXT
NC State remains at home with a big non-conference matchup next week as the Wolfpack hosts #17/16 LSU at Dail Softball Stadium. All three games will be on ACCNX.

Attendance at NC State Softball games is currently limited to player and staff guests only.

Friday's game against LSU has been moved up to 5 p.m.!

Amidst a 6-game win streak, @PackSoftball will take on No. 16/15 LSU in a 3-game series from April 16 to April 17.

LSU is led by Aliyah Andrews on offense, who leads the team in hits with 46 and in batting average with a .368.
@benellis81
https://t.co/6DtrDh7auP

In a big non-conference showdown, NC State will take on #16/15 LSU in a three-game series at Dail Softball Stadium. It will be the first time in program history the Wolfpack has hosted an SEC-opponent for a three-game series at home. The series kicks off Friday evening for a 5 p.m. game followed by a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on ACCNX.

Due to capacity limitations, attendance at NC State softball events remains limited to NC State player and staff guests only.

A LOOK AT LSU
LSU boasts a 24-13 record after facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The Tigers have eight top-25 wins and have won four of their last five SEC series.

Aliya Andrews provides speed at the top of the Tiger's lineup with a team-best .368 batting average. Andrews also ranks 13th nationally in stolen bases, with 22 on the season. Taylor Pleasants leads LSU in the power department with eight home runs and a .590 slugging percentage.

Ali Kilponen has been the ace in the circle for LSU, posting a 1.55 ERA through 72.1 innings pitched. Kilponen has a 10-4 record with 80 strikeouts. The Tigers pitching staff is deep, with four pitchers seeing more than 30.0 innings this season.

Women win 3-1 over #16/15 LSU

NC State softball downed the 15th-ranked LSU Tigers, 3-1, for it's eighth-straight win in a thrilling Friday night non-conference matchup at Dail Softball Stadium. Abby Trahan delivered for the Wolfpack in the circle for NC State's first program win against LSU (24-14).

Trahan (11-4) pitched the complete game for NC State (22-11), allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts. The redshirt senior becomes the sixth pitcher in the ACC to record 11 wins this season picking up her second ranked win of 2021.

Despite LSU taking the early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run, Trahan commanded her zone through the remainder of the game, not allowing another run despite two runners reaching scoring position in the second and third inning.

NC State's offense clicked in a huge sixth inning that was opened with a lead off single by April Visser. Angie Rizzi followed with a double to center field, putting two runners on with no outs. LSU made a pitching change, as Ali Kilponen entered the circle. Sam Russ laid down a bunt squeeze in an effort to tie the ball game, however, Visser was called out on a disputed play at home.

One batter later, Logan Morris stepped up in a big way with her eighth home run of the season, giving NC State a 3-1 lead. It marked the 55th home run in 2021 for the Wolfpack. The home run was all NC State would need, as Trahan struck out three of the four batters she faced in the fifth to secure the win.

OF NOTE
Friday marked the 45th win in program history over a ranked opponent and the first time since 2016 with two wins over a ranked opponent in the same season.
This weekend's series marks the first-ever three-game series against a SEC team at home for NC State.
Sam Sack caught LSU's Savannah Stewart stealing in the fourth inning, marking only the second time this season an LSU base runner has been caught.
NC State is the first unranked team outside of the SEC to defeat the Tigers this season.
The Pack has defeated a ranked opponent in eight of its last nine seasons, including four-straight.
Friday also marked the fourth sixth inning or later comeback of the year for NC State.

UP NEXT
The series against LSU continues tomorrow, April 17, with a doubleheader against the Tigers set for a 5 p.m. start.

Behind a 3-run bomb from Logan Morris, @PackSoftball took down No. 15 LSU 3-1.

Morris: "There was a controversial call right before. I was like, 'Logan, just get up there, get it done. Umpires can't screw a home run.'"
@bryanpyrtle & @benellis81
https://t.co/WBJiQb1OyH

Got today!

Raleigh, N.C.
5 p.m. (DH)
https://t.co/B7onJO75MW
https://t.co/iYUVjDSSYV https://t.co/IBSvGS3abN

Epic quote

home run in top of 7th gives LSU 2-1 win in Saturday game #1

Saturday game 2
LSU 13
NC State 2

Saturday game 2
LSU 13

NC State concluded its series against top-15 foe, LSU, Saturday evening in a doubleheader at Dail Softball Stadium. LSU took the series in a close 2-1 win in game one before a 13-2, six-inning win to end the weekend.

The Wolfpack saw a great pitching performance by Estelle Czech who, despite taking the loss, pitched a stellar 6.2 innings for NC State (22-13). Czech allowed just one run on five hits with three strikeouts. The only run was the go-ahead solo home run for LSU in the top of the seventh.

Logan Morris continued to have a stellar weekend, going 1-for-2 in the first game and registering the only run for NC State on a sacrifice fly in the first inning. Brigette Nordberg had the highlight of the second game, launching a two run home run in the second inning.

NC State picked up the 3-1 win in the series opener, Friday, behind a Morris home run and a solid performance by Abby Trahan in the circle. The Wolfpack became the only unranked non-conference opponent to defeat LSU this season on the way to defeating the Tigers for the first time in program history.

GAME 1 RECAP
Sydney Nester started game one and worked to find the strikezone, however, she walked the bases loaded. Czech entered the game before LSU scored the first run on a sacrifice fly, however, she limited the damage to the one run, retiring the next batter.

Morris' sacrifice-RBI added to her NC State career record, making it the eighth of her NC State career and tied the game, 1-1.

It was then a quick four innings as only two runners between the combined teams, reached scoring position. Taylor Tidwell gave LSU the lead and eventual win with a leadoff home run in the top of the seventh.

GAME 2 RECAP
After a quick first inning, both teams recorded runs in the second on home runs, with Nordberg's giving NC State the 2-1 lead. LSU however had a response with a two-run shot of their own, for the go-ahead lead. The Tigers would then score 10-straight, including two on bases-loaded walks.

Trahan started the game, pitching 2.0 innings where she allowed three runs on four hits. Three other NC State pitchers saw action, with Nester going 2.2 innings.

UP NEXT
NC State will wrap up its 10-game home stand with a mid-week doubleheader against Furman, April 21. The games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACCNX.