The NC State softball team’s eight-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday afternoon when it lost to Valparaiso 4-0 at Dail Softball Stadium.
Despite plenty of baserunners, the Wolfpack (11-7) couldn’t produce with runners on base, stranding 13 runners on the bases and looking lackluster offensively all game.
“We just didn’t come out ready to play,” head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift said. “Our demeanor looked like we thought we were just going to show up and win.”
NC State threatened early, with back-to-back singles from junior third baseman Skylar Johnston (2 for 4, K) and sophomore second baseman Logan Morris (3 for 4, double), and a walk by senior designated player Jessica Moore (0 for 2, two BB) loading the bases for shortstop Natalie Jones (0 for 3, BB, K). But for the second time in her last three games, the senior struck out swinging with the bases loaded, ending the inning.
The script remained the same in the second inning for the Pack, as a two-out double by sophomore left fielder Sam Russ (2 for 4, double, stolen base) put runners on second and third base for the NCAA’s leader in home runs, Brigette Nordberg (1 for 4). But the junior right fielder grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
The Crusaders (6-8) jumped on Pack starting pitcher Devin Wallace (5-4, 2.18 ERA) in the third inning, knocking her around for four runs on four hits, scoring a run on two sacrifice flies, a bunt single and a line-drive single to left field to take a 4-0 lead.
For the third inning in a row, NC State put runners in scoring position with less than two outs, loading the bases with just one out. Nothing would come of it yet again though, as sophomore first baseman Randi Farricker (0 for 2) popped out to third base and freshman catcher Kelli Wagner (0 for 1, BB, K) struck out swinging.
After going down quietly in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, Nordberg led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a sharp infield single to third base. After an infield popup by Johnston, Morris lined a double into the left-center gap and Moore drew a walk, loading the bases once again for Natalie Jones. Once again Jones failed to deliver, lining out to third base for a double play to end the game and hand the Wolfpack its first loss in over two weeks.
“We got a little bit anxious in [the batter’s box],” Patrick-Swift said. “We started swinging at pitches we don’t normally swing at.”
Freshman right-hander Sydney Nester (5-2, 1.96 ERA) entered in relief for Wallace after the third inning and threw four shutout innings, striking out seven batters and allowing just three hits. For just the first time since a Feb. 16 loss to Wisconsin, Wallace was charged with the loss.
The Wolfpack didn’t struggle to put runners on base, racking up eight hits, drawing four walks and reaching base on one error. Despite the runners, the Pack couldn’t muster a single hit with runners in scoring position, going 0 for 8 in such scenarios.
“We were missing a lot [of pitches],” Morris said. “We just didn’t manufacture runs like we should have.”
NC State will return to action on Friday at 10 a.m. in Charleston, SC, when it takes on Marist College in the first game of the College of Charleston Tournament.
