NC State softball won its second consecutive ACC series after taking two of three games from Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
After winning the opener 19-5, the Wolfpack (20-12, 4-5 ACC) took the second game of the series 5-0 and lost the final game 10-7. Last season, the Pack won just one conference series. This year, the Wolfpack has won two of its first three ACC series after securing two wins over the Eagles (12-14, 1-8 ACC).
Game 2, 5-0 win
Sophomore pitcher Carly Maxton put together her fifth complete-game shutout of the season to secure the 200th shutout in program history. Maxton was nearly unhittable as she gave up just one hit along with seven strikeouts in seven innings.
Maxton has emerged as the Wolfpack’s top arm in her sophomore season as she leads the team in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, batting average against and innings pitched.
With Maxton dealing on the mound, the Wolfpack’s offense took an aggressive approach at the plate. Of the five runs NC State scored, three came from solo home runs. In the second inning, both senior right fielder Taylor Ensley and freshman shortstop Kendall Simmers smashed solo shots to give the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, redshirt freshman Michele Tarpey roped a single down the right-field line to drive in two runners and give the Pack a 4-0 lead.
In the seventh inning, Ensley launched her second home run of the game to give the Wolfpack a 5-0 lead. Then Maxton closed out the game with one groundout and two popouts to secure the Wolfpack’s second straight conference series win.
Game 3, 10-7 loss
After a pitching masterclass in Game 2, Boston College jumped on the Wolfpack’s pitching staff early in Game 3, scoring six runs in the first inning. Junior pitcher Rylee Wyman started for the Wolfpack and could only get one out before being pulled. Wyman walked two batters and gave up a two-run home run.
Junior pitcher Wynne Gore then came in for Wyman and was also only able to get one out before being pulled. Gore hit a batter, gave up a walk and allowed a three-run home run before Maxton came in for her. By the time Maxton entered, the Wolfpack was already down 6-0.
Maxton pitched the rest of the game, giving up four runs — three earned – on eight hits in 5.1 innings. Maxton’s dropoff from Game 2 to Game 3 is most likely from not expecting to take on another heavy workload after pitching seven innings the night before.
Like it did in the second game, the Wolfpack was aggressive at the plate as six of its seven runs came via the long ball.
Tarpey sent a solo shot in the top of the third inning, Simmers crushed a three-run homer in the top of the sixth and junior designated hitter Hannah Church launched a two-run homer in the seventh.
Over the series, the Wolfpack hit nine home runs and scored 31 runs as its offense stayed aggressive for its entire stay in Massachusetts.
NC State’s last two series wins have come against two of the teams near the bottom of the ACC standings. The Pack’s next series will come against the top team in the conference — Florida State — where the Wolfpack will be able to see where it ranks among the sport’s best.
Before its matchup against Florida State, NC State will travel to Charlotte to take on the 49ers on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
