NC State softball lost to the No. 18 Clemson Tigers 17-3 at Dail Softball Stadium on Friday night.

The Wolfpack (21-20, 4-12 ACC) came into the game looking to break a seven-game losing streak. The Tigers (32-11, 12-4 ACC) aimed to bolster their resume as a dark horse regional host.

It was a struggle for the Wolfpack off the rip, as the Tigers got hitting early. By the middle of the second inning, Clemson had recorded 11 runs on five fielder’s choices, a grand-slam and six singles. The Pack got on the board in the first with a home run by freshman shortstop Kendall Simmers, but it was clear from the beginning the offense couldn’t keep up with the Tigers. Clemson led 11-1 at the end of the second inning.

The Tigers added five more runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to extend their lead to sixteen. A two-RBI single from sophomore left fielder Tori Ensley got the Pack two more runs, but it was too little, too late as the game ended early with the Pack run-ruled and Clemson winning 17-3.

From the first pitch, it was clear that this would be a rough game for the red-and-white. It was a five-inning game where four pitchers played and each allowed at least one run while on the mound. On top of that, NC State committed three fielding errors in the first two innings, including a throwing error in the first, which gave Clemson a big momentum boost — adding to its already strong inertia.

As the Wolfpack moves forward, it must stay positive and stick together as a team — focusing on its 14 remaining regular season games. This marks the eighth straight loss for the Pack, and while the majority of those games were played against top-25 teams, getting blown out does not bolster confidence for the rest of the season. The schedule won’t get any easier, but State will aim to learn from this performance and keep progressing.

The Wolfpack will play its next game against the Tigers on Saturday at Dail Softball Stadium. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.