The NC State softball team faced defeat in its second game of the weekend against Kennesaw State Sunday, falling 8-2 at Dail Softball Stadium to end the five-game Homewood Suites by Hilton RDU/RTP Challenge.
Overall, the team had a successful weekend, winning three of five games. NC State defeated Niagara twice, 9-1 and 9-7, and beat Kennesaw State (22-11) 4-3 in the first matchup against the Owls. The Pack’s (18-13, 3-5 ACC) first loss during the challenge was against Marist with a close score of 2-1.
“Today, [Kennesaw State] just hit it a little bit more and was able to capitalize on our mistakes,” head coach Shawn Rychcik said. “The second and the fifth inning were their big innings and we just didn’t take care of the ball and it leads to runs when you have a good team. That’s going to cause some problems.”
The Wolfpack gave up a home run to the Owls to start the first inning. The Owls pushed off of the early momentum, getting three runners on base. With bases loaded, the Pack was able to shut it down quickly before anything else could happen.
Unfortunately for the Pack, the first inning didn’t produce any runs and the Owls took full advantage in the second. Many errors fed the Owls’ run. A missed pop fly gave the Owls two bases. A bunt created an opening for an out, but the ball bounced off of junior Cheyenne Balzer’s glove leading to a run and the batter taking second base.
The Pack made a pitching change, as freshman Kama Woodall relieved senior Harli Hubbard. It didn’t slow down the Owls as another runner made it to home plate. The Owls gained four runs, leading the Pack 5-0 through two innings.
Despite not being able to respond in the bottom of the second, the Wolfpack came together in the third inning.
The Pack’s defense tightened up in the third inning, and offensively freshman Chandley Garner made it to base followed by a home run from sophomore Haylee Kobziak, cutting down the score to 5-2.
“Honestly, just to get my bat out in front. That’s it,” Kobziak said. “When I don’t hit, it’s because my bat is not out front. I just tell myself to get the bat out in front and hit the ball up the middle.”
Following its performance in the third inning, the Pack closes the fourth inning three-up, three-down.
The top of the fifth put the game to bed as the Owls gained three more runs, increasing their lead against the Pack to six runs. The last innings saw no runs, ending the game 8-2 in favor of Kennesaw State.
Kobziak stayed positive as she looked toward the future of the team.
“We just need to keep hitting the ball hard and stay confident,” Kobziak said. “We know what to do. We know how to play and we have a strong defense and we hit the ball well. We just need to stay confident in ourselves and continue to do what we do best.”
The Wolfpack will be returning to Dail Softball Stadium this Tuesday against South Carolina-Upstate at 5 p.m.
