The NC State softball team lost the series to Pittsburgh after splitting the doubleheader Saturday and dropping the series finale Sunday.
The Wolfpack (17-20, 3-6 ACC) gave the Panthers (23-12) a tough test Saturday afternoon but couldn’t quite get ahead in the final two games of the series.
“It was nice to get a jump on them early and get the first one, but I think we needed to keep fighting through the series,” pitcher Courtney Mirabella said. “We need to take advantage of our opportunities when we have the chance.”
Pittsburgh scored first in the pink game for breast cancer Saturday, but NC State was quick to respond, leading 2-1 by the end of the first inning. However, the Panthers tied it up in the second.
Both teams had home runs in the third. For the Pack, it was Molly Hutchison’s sixth homer of the season. State was able to regain the lead in the fifth inning after Hutchison hit an RBI single and Meredith Burroughs hit an RBI double.
Pittsburgh tied the score again in the sixth. Burroughs hit another RBI single to plate Tyler Ross in the final inning and clinched the win for State 6-5.
Burroughs was perfect with a 3-for-3 performance and Hutchison was 2 for 2. Mirabella collected her 11th win in the circle, striking out six batters and allowing four earned runs.
The second game of the day went three scoreless innings, then Burroughs walked with bases loaded. The fourth inning saw promise from State with a single from Maggie Hawkins and a double from Hannah Yeager. Pitt stopped the Pack in its tracks retiring three State batters.
In the sixth inning, Pitt put a two-run homer over the fence, making the score 2-1. State responded with runners on base but was cut short after a strikeout and double play.
Brittany Nimmo pitched her first complete game of her Wolfpack career and was in the circle again after returning from injury. She struck out three batters and allowed two earned runs.
Sunday’s game was another battle for the scoreboard as it went empty for several innings. Pittsburgh was the first to collect on the opportunity to score and put up the three runs necessary to win the game and series all in the fourth inning.
“I was disappointed in our hitting today,” head coach Shawn Rychcik said. “I thought we had pitches to hit today, and we just didn’t get good contact on them.”
State made an effort, and it looked like the team had a chance in the sixth inning. Burroughs walked and Hanna Sommer singled. Both advanced after a groundout, but it was the second groundout that ended the play.
There were only seven hits to the game with the Wolfpack unable to score on its three hits.
“We tried not to play to their strengths,” Mirabella said. “They played smart and got their hits when they needed them.”
Ross’ walk in the third inning increased her record of consecutive games reached base safely to 11.
Mirabella pitched the initial four innings allowing three hits, three runs and striking out two. Harli Hubbard relieved Mirabella in the circle for the next two scoreless innings with Nimmo taking over for the last inning.
The all-time series between the Panthers and Wolfpack is now even at six games apiece.
The Pack returns to action Wednesday against the Elon Phoenix.
