The NC State softball team lost 2-1 on the road at UNC-Greensboro Wednesday night, halting its three-game winning streak.
The Wolfpack (20-16, 2-7 ACC) was stifled on offense all night and couldn’t provide enough run support for junior right-hander Devin Wallace, who twirled a complete-game gem but was handed the loss.
The Spartans (21-12) struck first, plating a run in the bottom of the third inning after a wild pitch and passed ball put a runner on third base with two outs. A two-out single to left field by first baseman Marisa Sholtes put UNCG up 1-0.
Just a few minutes later, sophomore left fielder Sam Russ struck right back for NC State, launching a solo home run to right field and evening the score at 1-1. With the heart of its lineup following Russ, the Pack struck out in order, fanning three straight times to end the inning.
UNCG answered in the next half inning, with infielder Hanna Kincer taking advantage of a rare Wallace miscue and ripping an RBI double to center field, giving the Spartans back a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The Wolfpack threatened to come back in the top of the sixth inning, as Russ stayed hot with a double to left field, putting a runner on second base with just one out. Russ’ double was to no avail, though, with junior right fielder Brigette Nordberg and sophomore third baseman Logan Morris each popping up in the infield to kill the rally.
Russ and sophomore infielder Chandley Garner were the only Pack batters to reach base, with Russ going 2 for 3 with a home run and a double and Garner reaching base on two singles. Continuing a recent trend, Russ was one of the offense’s lone contributors. The Pack’s star leadoff hitter has now reached base 13 times in the Wolfpack’s last five games and has been putting the team on her back as of late.
After coming alive in a series win over Boston College, NC State’s bats fell silent. The Pack struck out 12 times and didn’t draw a single walk, rarely getting runners on base to start a rally.
Wallace turned in one of her best performances of the season in the loss, striking out nine batters and allowing just two hits and one earned run in a six-inning complete game.
NC State returns to action on Friday at 6 p.m. when it kicks off a three-game series against Syracuse at Dail Softball Stadium.
