The NC State softball team played in the Charleston Invitational in Charleston, SC, winning four games against a lone loss to Rhode Island.

Pitching was the Wolfpack’s (15-8, 0-0) ultimate weapon this weekend, as Pack pitchers combined to allow only a single run in five games. The weekend featured multiple complete games, four shutouts, and was highlighted by a no-hitter.

The first game against Marist featured an oddity; NC State scored a run before its first recorded hit. In the sixth inning of a scoreless game, an error put sophomore infielder Logan Morris on the bases, and a wild pitch and a sacrifice groundout allowed her to take third base. A bunt then brought Morris home, putting the Wolfpack up 1-0.

Later in the inning, the no-hitter was broken by an RBI triple from senior infielder Natalie Jones, and one more run would score later on to give NC State a 3-0 lead it would not relinquish.

The game against Rhode Island featured little excitement in the hitting department as both pitchers dominated the day. Becca Rogers from Rhode Island and junior pitcher Devin Wallace from NC State combined to allow only three hits total in dueling complete games. However, NC State fell just short as a run scored by Rhode Island in the fourth inning proved to be the difference in a 1-0 loss.

The team bounced back nicely against Bryant, as the Pack logged 10 hits and Wallace pitched a complete-game shutout while setting a new career high in strikeouts with 10. Once again, NC State scored a run before its first hit as sophomore outfielder Sam Russ was walked to start the game, stole second and third base, then crossed home plate after a bad throw to third. Three more runs would follow and NC State won 4-0.

Russ also scored a leadoff run in the fourth game against College of Charleston, however, this one was much more simple. She smashed a pitch into center field for a triple and then scored on an error. Another run was scored in the fourth inning, giving NC State a 2-0 lead.

The extra run would prove to be unnecessary, however, thanks to absolute domination on the mound by freshman pitcher Sydney Nester, who delivered a no-hitter featuring a staggering 15 strikeouts. It’s the most strikeouts by any Pack player in a single game since Emily Weiman tossed 18 against Lipscomb in 2015.

Against Youngstown State, the 1-0 Pack lead belied some major excitement toward the end of the game. Youngstown State had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Wallace managed to escape the horrible jam and pick up a save. Jones belted an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning which proved to be the only run scored by either team.

The team remains in Charleston to take on Charleston Southern on Tuesday in the final game of its six-game road trip.