The NC State softball team went 3-1 against Ohio State and Illinois in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, both of whom were receiving votes in the AP Poll. The weekend included two huge come-from-behind wins, including a walk-off home run. Here is how the numbers looked across the weekend.

.488 — The combined batting average of senior Tatyana Forbes and juniors Sam Russ and Logan Morris. The trio carried the Wolfpack’s offense all weekend and combined for seven extra-base hits (three doubles, one triple and three home runs). Across the weekend, the Wolfpack’s first three batters in the lineup combined for 21 of the team’s 32 total hits; the rest of the team’s batting average was a combined .164.

272 — Pitches thrown by sophomore righty Sydney Nester. The sophomore starter threw 16.2 innings over the weekend and was stunning in the first three games, allowing five earned runs, striking out 13, picking up two wins and a save along the way. In the final game against Illinois, Nester came in during the third inning and was not as good as she was the previous two days, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in 3.1 innings of relief.  

9.1 — Innings pitched by senior Devin Wallace, the Wolfpack’s ace. The veteran starter pitched a near-complete game against the Buckeyes on Saturday, going 6.2 innings and striking out seven while giving up three earned runs on six hits. While she and Nester were poor on Sunday, with the former going just 2.2 innings and allowing three runs on three hits before being pulled, the Wolfpack’s pitching staff had a good weekend overall. 

4 — Home runs hit by the Wolfpack over the weekend. Head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift is known for her home-run mindset, and that was apparent over the weekend as the Pack averaged one per game. The homers came from Morris, who hit two including a walk-off, as well as Russ and senior Brigette Nordberg, who each hit one.

14 — The number of runners the Pack left on base in the two games against Ohio State. While it won both games, it needed to come from behind both times to do so. 

11 — The number of walks and hit-by-pitches the Wolfpack pitchers gave up over the weekend. In its three wins, that number sinks to just four, as the Pack forced its opponents to earn its spots on the base paths. Unfortunately for the Pack, the pitchers ran out of steam in the final game, walking six and hitting one with a pitch.