The NC State softball team lost its second game in a row on Saturday, falling to No. 25 Virginia Tech 12-1 in the second game of its weekend series at Dail Softball Stadium.
The Wolfpack (16-10, 0-2 ACC) couldn’t get anything going offensively and the Hokies (20-4, 4-1 ACC) had a field day at the plate, racking up 11 hits and four walks.
Junior right-hander Devin Wallace got the start on the mound for the Pack but struggled early, walking the first three batters to load the bases. Head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift decided she had seen enough and pulled Wallace in favor of freshman righty Sydney Nester.
“We have no idea what happened,” Patrick-Swift said. “She’s not hurt, she was fine in the bullpen. Just couldn’t find the strike zone.”
The Hokies jumped on Nester immediately, with left fielder Emma Strouth taking Nester’s first pitch deep to center field for a grand slam and an early 4-0 lead. The freshman settled down immediately after, retiring the side without any further damage.
Virginia Tech tacked on another run in the top of the second inning, as second baseman Maddi Banks knocked Nester around for another home run, this time a solo shot to left field. After Nester walked the next batter, center fielder Darby Trull launched a two-run home run to center field, putting the Hokies up 7-0.
Sophomore righty Kama Woodall came in to relieve Nester after Trull’s home run, and two quick outs later, Woodall surrendered a single. One batter later, first baseman Jayme Bailey took a 3-1 fastball deep to right field for the Hokies’ fourth home run of the game and a 9-0 lead.
“You’ve got to spin [the pitch] and you’ve got to make it move,” Patrick-Swift said. “You can’t throw it over the middle of the plate. [Virginia Tech] hit them out, as a good Division-I team should do.”
Redshirt sophomore center fielder Randi Farricker led off the second inning with a double, and after advancing to third base on a throwing error, senior designated player Jessica Moore grounded out to second base to drive in Farricker and get the Wolfpack on the board.
Virginia Tech’s home run derby wasn’t done just yet. In the top of the fifth inning, pinch hitter Grace Chavez smacked a two-run home run to left field, giving Virginia Tech an 11-1 lead and five home runs on the day. After an error by Natalie Jones put the next batter on base, a one-out double scored another run and put the Hokies up 12-1.
Farricker (1-for-2, run, double) and sophomore left fielder Sam Russ (1-for-2, double, walk) picked up the only two hits for a Wolfpack offense that has struggled to score runs as of late; the Pack has scored more than four runs just once in its last nine games.
“We’re just not making any adjustments to lift the ball up,” Russ said. “Our mindset is to hit home runs and we’re not making the adjustments depending on the pitchers.”
NC State will return to action Sunday at 12 p.m. when it takes on Virginia Tech at Dail Softball Stadium in the conclusion of its three-game series.
Sophomore pitcher Kama Woodall delivers the ball against Virginia Tech on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Dail Softball Stadium. Woodall pitched four innings, striking out three while giving up four earned runs and one walk on six hits. The Wolfpack lost to the Hokies 12-1.
