NC State softball had a close 6-5 win against Campbell Wednesday night at Dail Softball Stadium, hitting two home runs to put it to bed.
The Wolfpack (20-19, 4-10 ACC) had a strong start to the game with three easy outs. The team made its presence known in the bottom of the first, when the Pack had the bases loaded with two outs, but the team was unable to score any runs as the Fighting Camels (18-22, 6-9 Big South) got the third out at third base.
“I didn’t feel like we were going to get shutdown today,” head coach Shawn Rychcik said. “I thought we were having good at bats and we kept doing what we were doing. We had a couple adjustments to the lineup too around the first pitcher. From that standpoint I feel like we were going to have an inning and be able to score runs. It was to make sure we didn’t give up too many. Keep ourselves in it.”
The second inning was rocky for the Pack on both offense and defense. Defensively, the Pack couldn’t prevent stolen bases and allowed Campbell to take the first run. The Pack wrapped up the inning quickly afterwards with a third out caused by sophomore catcher Haylee Kobziak who chased the runner back to third base where the out was made.
“It was early in the game and we were seeing the pitcher,” Kobziak said. “We just had to see her again and I knew that we were going to find a way because we had seen her before.”
The bottom of the third inning was a strong turnaround for the Wolfpack. Starting the inning, sophomore Jade Caraway was able to get onto first base and stole second. Caraway scored the first run for the Pack.
With the score tied 1-1, Kobziak came up to bat to hit a home run, earning the team another three runs on top of the one Caraway had just scored. The home run came at a good time for the Pack as it put the team up 4-1 and gave a good cushion for the innings to come.
“She left the ball right down the middle of the plate and I took full advantage of it,” Kobziak said.
The top of the fourth inning proved how essential the timing of the home run was. Sophomore pitcher Devin Wallace was switched out after walking three batters. On the mound, freshman Kama Woodall stepped up but Campbell took advantage and stole home.
The Fighting Camels scored one more run before the Pack closed the inning, cutting down the score to 4-3.
The Fighting Camels weren’t done yet, as at the top of the fifth, they tied up the score 4-4.
The Pack came back strong in the bottom of the fifth which secured the team’s victory. Junior Jessica Moore hit a home run which brought the Pack two more runs to pull ahead 6-4.
Rychcik, agreed that the timing of each home run was important to the Pack’s offense today.
“One brought us back and the other one put us ahead,” said Rychcik. “Anytime you get homeruns like that they’re big at bats. And I thought Jess was a huge at bat cause she fouled off I think three or four pitches prior and hitting the other way. It was an awesome hit going out driving it that way. Something she’s worked on for awhile so I’m glad to see it pay off in a game.”
The Pack didn’t score anymore runs but it also prevented the Fighting Camels from scoring in the sixth inning but at the top of the seventh, Campbell scored a single homerun that luckily only brought home the batter, ending the game with a Wolfpack win 6-5.
The team moves on to play against UNC-Chapel Hill away from home this Friday at 6 p.m.
