In its first conference game of the season, NC State softball could not get it done at the plate, falling to Georgia Tech 2-1 in Atlanta on Friday night.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Carly Maxton was in the circle all six innings for the Pack (15-8, 0-1 ACC), doing everything she could to give the offense a chance, giving up just two hits and one walk. The Yellow Jackets (13-9, 1-0 ACC) made Maxton pay for the few mistakes she did make — the first hit she gave up was a two-run home run that ended up being the game-winning swing.

At the plate, the Wolfpack produced three hits, one more than Georgia Tech, but couldn’t take advantage in the key moments, stranding five runners on base.

It reared its head in the top of the seventh when three runners got on base, but only one scored off a wild pitch. Both sophomore left fielder Tori Ensley and junior designated hitter MaKayla Marbury struck out with a runner in scoring position. Overall, NC State was 0-5 with runners in scoring position and 0-8 with runners on base.

Even while Georgia Tech’s pitcher, Kinsey Norton, seemed to be all over the place with two wild pitches, the Pack could not take advantage. The game ended on a groundout by junior center fielder Ellie Goins to third base, stranding two runners.

Apart from the failed rally in the seventh where the Pack could not take advantage of its baserunners, it had two hits in the first six innings.

Another issue for NC State, linked to its problem of converting with runners in scoring position, was a top-heavy lineup. None of the batters five through nine in the lineup got a hit, and only two even got on base. When the top of the lineup manufactured a rally to come back and try to win the game, the offense sputtered as it reached the bottom half of the order.

After giving up the two-run homerun, Maxton pitched the rest of the game clean, retiring the next seven batters. She finished with five strikeouts on 83 pitches, but with the loss, she moved to 5-2 on the season. Maxton has been a real bright spot for the Pack, leading the pitching staff with a 1.17 ERA.

The best offensive player for the Wolfpack was redshirt junior first baseman Michele Tarpey, going 1-2 with a single and a walk. Senior right fielder Taylor Ensley also had a solid day, going 1-3 with a double.

The Pack will play Game 2 of its series against the Yellow Jackets on Saturday at 3 p.m.