Scoring 31 runs and hitting nine home runs in its series against Boston College last weekend, NC State softball continued its offensive onslaught in an 8-2 win over UNC-Charlotte Wednesday night at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium.
The Wolfpack (21-12) put together 13 hits and smashed two home runs on the way to its fifth win in the last six games. On the mound, sophomore right-handed pitcher Carly Maxton recorded her 12th outing allowing two runs or less, as she had four strikeouts in six innings of work to quell the 49ers’ (15-19) offense.
NC State’s bats came out of the gates ready as redshirt junior first baseman Michele Tarpey smacked a leadoff double down the left field line. A few batters later, redshirt senior designated hitter Payden Bordeau hit a single to drive in Tarpey, giving the Pack a 1-0 lead after the top of the first.
It was in the top of the second when the Pack’s offense found its groove. Three singles brought in two runs, then with one runner on base, junior catcher Hannah Church blasted her 14th homer of the season to make it 5-0 in the second inning. Church has four home runs in her last four games and has the fifth most in the country.
That’s all the runs the Wolfpack needed with Maxton on the mound. Through the first five innings, the 49ers managed just two hits and didn’t get a runner past second base. While the Wolfpack offense was quiet between innings three through five, it put two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth.
Church recorded her third and fourth RBI of the game when she singled through the left side of the field, driving in junior center fielder Ellie Goins and sophomore right fielder Tori Ensley for a 7-0 lead. It’s the fourth time this season Church has had at least four RBIs in a game and she has a team-leading 41, with the next closest being senior right fielder Taylor Ensley with 25.
Charlotte eventually got to Maxton in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring off a solo home run and a double. But that’s all she gave up, and now Maxton has a 2.02 ERA, which ranks fourth in the ACC. It’s been a breakout season for Maxton, who pitched just 18.1 innings last season with a 5.35 ERA.
NC State added one more run in the top of the seventh when freshman shortstop Kendall Simmers hit a solo home run to left field for her fourth of the season to make it 8-2. Junior right-handed pitcher Wynne Gore came in to pitch the seventh and allowed two hits but got out of the inning without giving up a run.
Up next, the Wolfpack will travel to Tallahassee, Florida, to take on the top team in the ACC. No. 8 Florida State has yet to lose a conference game this season and has only lost five games all season. Game 1 of the three-game series is set for Friday at 6 p.m.
