Down in Boca Raton, Florida for the Joan Joyce Classic, NC State softball secured a pair of wins on the first day of the tournament. In two late-night games, the red-and-white handled Purdue 7-3 and shutout Dartmouth 3-0.
The Pack (5-2) is off to its start through seven games since the team started 6-1 in 2022. The Wolfpack mixed and matched styles to get the wins with an offensive explosion against Purdue (3-5) and a pitching masterclass against Dartmouth (0-2).
Game 1
In the first two innings against Purdue, the Pack jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a pair of hits down the right field line. Freshman shortstop Kendall Simmers got things started with a single that brought two runners across home plate. Senior right fielder Taylor Ensley followed suit in the second with a double that doubled the lead.
It didn’t take long for Purdue to respond with a trio of runs in the second to cut NC State’s lead to one. Back-to-back hits consisting of a triple and double made it a game again.
Junior designated hitter Hannah Church launched a two-run homer to left-center in the top of the fifth to make it 6-3 and Ensley hit a solo shot to right field that made it 7-3 in the sixth. Junior right-handed pitchers Wynne Gore and Madison Inscoe earned the win and save respectively, combining for seven strikeouts.
Game 2
While NC State was firing off runs in the first game, the second game started slowly as the Wolfpack didn’t score until the fourth. A slow offensive start was negated by sophomore right-handed pitcher Carly Maxton’s hot start.
In the first two innings, Maxton sent Dartmouth three up and three down with four strikeouts. It was a harbinger as Maxton totaled 10 strikeouts, becoming the second pitcher on the NC State staff to record double-digit strikeouts in their career.
While Maxton was well on her way to earning her second shutout win of the season, senior third baseman Hannah Goodwin launched a three-run homer down the left-field line in the bottom of the fourth. Bringing home junior second baseman MaKayla Marbury and freshman pinch runner Kam Munson, Goodwin put the Pack’s only runs of the game on the board. Maxton closed out the game, only giving up three hits in seven innings.
The Pack continues action in the Joan Joyce Classic, on a quick turnaround with a rematch against Purdue and a contest against the hosts — Florida Atlantic — at 1:30 and 3:45 p.m.
