The defending ACC Champion N.C. State softball team continued its recent fine form with a sweep of the No. 25 USC Upstate Spartans 1-0, 5-3 at Dail Park on Wednesday evening. With the pair of victories, the Wolfpack has won eight straight overall and improved to 10-6 on the season.
“I am glad to get two wins, they’re a good opponent,” N.C. State head coach Shawn Rychcik said. “I am little disappointed with our defense, but overall two wins against a ranked opponent is good for us.”
The Pack won a pitcher’s duel in the opener as junior Emily Weiman managed to outpitch USC Upstate senior Hannah Alexander in State’s shutout victory. Weiman, the College Sports Madness Player of the Week after a no-hitter versus St. Bonaventure last week, hurled a complete game, going seven innings and allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five batters.
“Emily [Weiman] was pretty good the first game,” Rychcik said. “We matched them. We got just that one run and that was enough. You could see how that game was building between the two pitchers, two aces, and we got the win in the opener.”
N.C. State’s bat got going early in the nightcap as the Wolfpack put up three runs in the bottom of the first inning against the Spartans. Freshman catcher Molly Hutchinson blasted a two-run homer to give State a lead would never relinquish. Hutchinson also homered in her second at-bat in the third inning, giving the San Diego-native a team-leading five long balls for the season.
“That is the good thing about our offense, you never know,” Rychick said. “I would like to see them all be real consistent. It is nice to know somebody can grab on to us, and carry us like that. Those were big hits.”
The Spartans mounted a late rally in the second game, scoring two unearned runs in the fifth inning off freshman pitcher Courtney Mirabella and pushing across another run in the sixth off Weiman after the junior came entered the game in relief to narrow the deficit to one run heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Mirabella picked up her first collegiate win, while Weiman picked up her first save of the season.
“I am really pleased with how [Mirabella] threw, Rychick said. “She should have got out [the fifth] inning unscathed and then we were going to make the move for Emily [Weiman] anyway. We were actually hoping to get four [innings] out of Mirabella at best. She gave us five. I thought she threw real well.”
N.C. State responded in the bottom of the sixth with an insurance run. Freshman centerfielder Tyler Ross drew a two-out walk. Senior first baseman Leah Jones then singled to right field, moving Ross to second base. Senior catcher Kirsty Grant then reached on a throwing error, scoring Ross and giving the Pack breathing room entering the final inning.
“I was playing for five [runs]. Rychick said. “They are a good hitting team. Getting [an insurance run] late was good. It takes away their sacrifice bunt,. Anytime you can add runs late in the game. you are making easier for your last three outs.”
N.C. State returns to action on Saturday when the Wolfpack puts its 11-game ACC regular season winning streak on the line against conference-newcomers Pittsburgh at Dail Softball Stadium in a three-game set. First pitch for the opening game is at noon.
