The N.C. State softball team had a tough weekend at Dail Stadium against Florida State, as the Seminoles swept the Pack in its first league games of the season, including dropping the finale Sunday 2-0.
State (11-8-1, 0-3) struggled at the plate all weekend, as the Pack was held to one run in three games against Florida State (17-8, 3-0). N.C. State had 10 hits in 21 innings over the course of the series.
FSU defeated the Wolfpack in the opening games Saturday by scores of 4-0 and 11-1.
“Florida State has one of the best pitching staffs in the conference and they showed it these three games,” N.C. State head coach Shawn Rychcik said. “I thought we would have a better effort at the plate, but their pitchers were sharp all weekend.”
“We probably went down swinging a few more times than I wanted this weekend,” Rychcik added. “We didn’t put enough balls in play.”
As it had during both games of the double-header Saturday, the Seminoles took the lead early in Sunday’s contest, as shortstop Maddie O’Brien smashed a solo home run in the second inning. FSU tacked on another run in the top of the third to provide insurance.
Wolfpack hurler Emily Weiman, who took all three losses over the weekend, responded well after the early trouble. The sophomore from Pasadena, Md. held Florida State to the two earned runs on only three hits in the complete game outing. Weiman struck out eight and walked three.
“I thought Emily did a nice job,” Rychcik said, “seeing their lineup for the third consecutive day.”
On Sunday, the N.C. State had a chance to get on the board early. The Pack had runners at second and third base with one out, after back to back singles by junior Kirsty Grant and freshman Hanna Sommer. Florida State sophomore pitcher Lacey Waldrop was able to induce two lie-outs to end the inning without any harm and State never seriously threatened again.
The Wolfpack will look to regain momentum quickly with a crowded schedule in the month of March that features 13 games in the next three weeks.
“You worry about [lost momentum] anytime you take a three-game loss like that and there is a little bit of a losing streak,” Rychcik said. “We will do our best as a staff to try and keep things going (in the right direction). Ultimately, it is up to them.”
Next up for N.C. State is a trip to Southern California, as the Pack will participate in the Judi Garmin Classic in Fullerton. The opening tilt will be against DePaul Thursday at 6:30 p.m. State will also be facing national powerhouses No. 14 Michigan, No. 10 Texas, and top-ranked Oklahoma. Rychcik is eager to see how his team will fare.
“We turn it off for a weekend from conference and go non-conference,” Rychcik said. “It’s just an opportunity to get better. You play better competition, it will make you better. There is more work to be done.”
