Pack softball beats Ohio in extra innings to win RDU/RTP Invite

Robert Brooks, Correspondent • February 26, 2018

Sophomore outfielder Jade Caraway runs toward first base after a bunt during the game against ECU. The Wolfpack defended their home, winning game one 8-1 and tying game two 3-3 in Dail Softball Stadium on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.

The NC State softball team won a close 4-3 battle in an extra inning against Ohio Sunday to clinch the Homewood Suites by Hilton RDU/RTP Invitational title at Dail Softball Stadium.

NC State (10-5) went 4-1 in the tournament, with wins coming against Delaware St, Wagner twice and Ohio. While the tournament did not provide the most loaded field, the Wolfpack should be excited about the win and how its performance could indicate a strong rest of the spring. Both offense and defense were clicking, and the Wolfpack showed some real toughness to help pull out the win.

“Our at-bats were outstanding today with 10 hits, and we had several line outs so the quality of our at-bats were great,” head coach Shawn Rychcik told NC State Athletics. “Our defense was outstanding. I really like the way we’re playing right now and when we play the way we’re supposed to it improves our team as a whole.”

The championship game was tied 1-1 until the fifth inning, when NC State sophomore outfielder Angie Rizzi scored on freshman Timberlyn Shurbutt’s sacrifice fly to give the Wolfpack a 2-1 advantage. The Bobcats quickly tied the game once again in the sixth with an RBI double from Katie Yun.

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In the top of the extra eighth inning, freshman Lily Bishop hit a two-run homer to give the Wolfpack the 4-2 lead that would eventually lead to the victory. The Bobcats did their best to comeback in the last half with one run, but the comeback attempt would end there. Wolfpack senior Alyssa Compton ended the game as she calmly gloved a grounder and threw over to junior Cheyenne Balzer at first base to end the game and win the invitational.

Sophomore starting pitcher Devin Wallace continued to be a bright spot for the Wolfpack as her record improved to 5-3 on the season with a 2.02 ERA. Another sophomore, Jade Caraway, has been one of the Wolfpack’s most productive hitters with a strong .348 batting average and a team-leading 13 runs.

NC State will continue its season by traveling to Boseman Field in Wilmington to face the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks on Wednesday at 4 p.m.