In front of a packed crowd at Dail Softball Stadium, the NC State softball team won the first game of its Saturday doubleheader, beating Campbell 8-0 in five innings in the NC State Invitational.
Sophomore infielder Logan Morris, senior infielder Jessica Moore, redshirt sophomore infielder Randi Farricker and junior outfielder Angie Rizzi each homered to lead the Wolfpack (9-6) to its sixth win in a row.
Junior right fielder Brigette Nordberg (1 for 2, BB) got the Wolfpack going early, singling home sophomore left fielder Sam Russ (1 for 2, BB) in the bottom of the first inning. A few batters later, Morris (2 for 3, HR, two RBIs) homered to center field, scoring junior third baseman Skylar Johnston (0 for 3, run) and putting the Pack up 3-0.
After a scoreless second inning, NC State struck again in the bottom of the third. For the second game in a row, Moore (1 for 3, HR, three RBIs) smacked a home run to left field, this time a three-run shot scoring Nordberg and Morris to push the Pack’s lead to 6-0.
NC State threatened in the fourth inning, with Russ reaching base on a bunt single and Nordberg drawing a walk. The two then pulled off a double steal, putting runners on second and third with no outs. The Pack was unable to drive either runner in, though, as Johnston, Morris and Moore struck out, lined out to shortstop and struck out, respectively.
Farricker got in on the home run action in the bottom of the fifth, taking a one-out fastball deep to left field for the Pack’s third home run of the night and a 7-0 lead. Two batters later, Rizzi (2 for 3, HR, RBI) delivered the mercy-rule walkoff, homering to right field and ending the game.
Starting on the mound for the third game in a row, junior right-hander Devin Wallace (4-3, 1.84 ERA) got the win for the Pack, throwing a five-inning complete game and allowing zero runs on one hit, striking out seven Camels (4-12) batters.
Morris (nine games), Nordberg (eight), Russ (seven) and Moore (five) all extended their consecutive games on base streak to at least five. With the four home runs in the game, the Pack has now hit 15 home runs in its last five games, all wins.
The Wolfpack will return to action at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday night against Charleston Southern in the second game of the NC State Invitational doubleheader at Dail Softball Stadium.
