Pitchers
Sydney Nester and
Devin Wallace notched career-high outings on Saturday night at the Charleston Invitational in the NC State softball team's (14-8) sweep over Bryant (1-12) and host College of Charleston (11-11) at Patriots Point Complex.
Wallace tallied a career-high 10 strikeouts in the 4-0 win over the Bulldogs while Nester threw the first no-hitter of her collegiate career and fanned a career-best 15 in the Wolfpack's 2-0 victory against the Cougars in the nightcap.
The sweep on Saturday gives the Pack three shutout wins this weekend and five on the season.
Of Note (Game One)-Wallace (6-5) went the distance in the shutout, not allowing a walk while striking out a career-high 10 batters after matching her previous career best in Friday's game against Rhode Island. It was the seventh time Wallace has tossed a complete game and the second time she has shut out a team.
-The team collected 10 hits in the contest, as
Skylar Johnston,
Natalie Jones and
Kelli Wagner led the team with two hits apiece in their three at-bats.
-Nordberg belted her 12th homer of the year which is the third-most in the NCAA.
How It Happened (Game One)-The Pack struck early when
Sam Russ drew a leadoff walk in the first at-bat of the game, stole second and third, and an errant throw on her second stolen bag allowed her to cross home plate.
-Brigette tacked on two more runs in the fifth with a home run to right field after Russ hit a one-out single up the middle.
-In the sixth Wagner gave her team the 4-0 advantage with an RBI single up the middle after
Natalie Jones and pinch hitter
Chandley Garner started the side with outfield singles.
-Bryant made the attempt to rally back in the seventh as an error and pair of infield singles loaded the bases for the Bulldogs with two outs, but Wallace picked up her 10th strikeout for the complete game shutout.
Of Note (Game Two)-Nester's (7-2) 15 strikeouts are the most for a Pack player in a single game since Emily Weiman's 18 vs. Lipscomb on March 13, 2015. She tossed her third shutout and fifth complete game of the season.
-Prior to Saturday, Wallace was the last player to throw a no-hitter as she accomplished the feat in the team's 3-0 win over Wagner on Feb. 23, 2018.
-Johnston and Russ both went 2-for-4 at the plate, tallying four of the team's seven hits in the contest.
How It Happened (Game Two)-Once again, the Pack struck first with a run when Russ led off the game with a triple to center field and scored on a two-out error.
-The Cougars looked to respond in the bottom half of the first with runners on first and second with one out after Nester issued a pair of walks, but she kept them off the board with a pair of strikeouts.
-In the fourth inning,
Angie Rizzi drew a one-out walk and Russ bunt singled to put runners at first and second for Nordberg, who's single up the middle plated Rizzi to double NC State's lead.
-Charleston's only threat of the game was in the bottom of the fourth with runners at the corners with two outs thanks two walks and two wild pitches, but Nester escaped the jam.
On DeckNC State will conclude competition Sunday in the Charleston Invitational at the Patriots Point Complex in Charleston, S.C., with a game against Youngstown State at 2:30 p.m.
https://gopack.com/news/2019/3/9/softball-nester-wallace-notch-career-high-outings-in-sweep-over-bulldogs-cougars.aspx