As quickly as the NC State softball started scoring, it stopped. After scoring nine runs in the first three innings, the Wolfpack failed to keep up with Clemson in the second half of the game, dropping the third game 14-9 and the series
It was a bittersweet series for the Pack (14-5, 1-2 ACC); it earned its first win in Clemson in program history but after winning the first game and jumping out to a 5-0 lead to start the third, it was unable to claim the series. Clemson (13-4, 2-1 ACC) proved why it’s one of the best in the ACC and the country, taking two out of the three games in the series.
The game could not have started any better for the Wolfpack and any worse for the Tigers. In the top of the first, NC State jumped out to a five-run lead, aided by three infield errors from the Tigers.
With a full count, lead-off hitter and sophomore shortstop MaKayla Marbury homered to center field, energizing the Wolfpack dugout. The solo shot was Marbury’s sixth of the year and in 30 fewer games, Marbury is close to tying her season-high for home runs.
Following a hit-by-pitch, error and fielder’s choice, senior second baseman Kaylee Lambrecht doubled to left center that split two Clemson outfielders, and brought in two more runners for the Pack.
After sophomore center fielder Ellie Goins reached first on a fielding error, she stole second base and forced a throwing error, allowing Lambrecht to score. Goins then stole third and reached home plate on a sac fly.
With new head coach Lindsay Leftwich, the Wolfpack has completely changed its philosophy on running the bases. Coming into the weekend, NC State had as many stolen bases as it did in its previous two years. And the change paid off early in this contest as a pair of steals from Goins put more runs on the board.
Despite going down five runs as quickly as Clemson did, it responded well in the bottom of the first with three runs of its own. A pair of back-to-back pitches from sophomore pitcher Rylee Wyman advanced a runner to third who then scored on a follow-up single that Marbury dove for to keep it in the infield.
Promptly after, Tigers shortstop Alia Logoleo homered deep to center field, bringing Clemson within two. Although a shaky start for Wyman, she closed the inning out smoothly, forcing a groundout to third and striking out another.
Unlike the first inning, the second was all orange. NC State saw three batters retire in just four pitches while Clemson tacked on five more runs to take an 8-5 lead. A three-run homerun from pitcher Valerie Cagle followed by a double and two errors gave Clemson the lead.
The Wolfpack got back on track in the top of the third when four of its first five batters registered a hit. The series of successful at-bats brought in another two runs and cut the lead to just one. Then, sophomore pitcher and designated hitter Madison Inscoe singled up the middle to bring in two more runs and reclaim the lead.
Inscoe didn’t stop there either; in the subsequent half-inning, the sophomore dual-threat only gave up one hit as she struck out one batter and retired two more on the ground and through the air.
The second half of the game is where the Pack struggled to bring runners home. In the top of the fourth, NC State was down to just one out with a runner on first, but a single and well-earned walk from redshirt sophomore first baseman Michele Tarpey loaded the bases. However, Inscoe didn’t capitalize and stranded the three runners on base.
While Clemson added on six more runs in the fourth and fifth innings powered by a two-run and three-run homer both to center field, NC State could only muster up three hits. The Wolfpack made contact, but the Tigers’ infield kept retiring batters via groundouts.
The Tigers clinched a closer-than-expected series versus the Pack. NC State returns to action on Wednesday, March 6th where it is set to take on App State in Raleigh at 6 p.m.
