NC State softball picked up its 22nd win of the season Wednesday, downing in-state rival East Carolina 5-1 at home.
The Wolfpack (22-18, 3-9 ACC) could not have asked for a better start against the Pirates (19-21, 1-8 AAC), with much thanks going to starting ECU pitcher Whitney Stanford. Stanford threw only one strike in her nineteen pitches thrown. The starter for the Pirates was pulled after walking four straight Wolfpack batters.
After pulling out to a 2-0 lead, without having to even record a hit, freshman catcher Kelli Wagner recorded the first hit of the game for the Pack that gave NC State another run to pad its lead. A double roped to right-center field by freshman shortstop April Visser gave the Wolfpack a 5-0 lead after the first inning.
“Our mentality is just to get after it and hit home runs,” Visser said. “I just wanted to try and focus on the barrel hitting the ball and just do my job at the plate.”
Junior pitcher Devin Wallace was simply phenomenal through the first three innings. While the Pack did not put up any more runs in the second and third innings, it didn’t matter to Wallace. The pitcher from Raleigh struck out two while only giving up two hits.
With the game still 5-0, ECU finally showed signs of life and loaded the bases on the Pack. After a mound visit with only one out recorded, Wallace pitched the Pirates into grounding out to sophomore third baseman Logan Morris who threw a beauty to first base to complete the double play. The stellar defensive play helped preserve the Pack’s 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.
“[Coach] said to just go right at them, we’re at the bottom of the lineup,” Wallace said. “She told me to just attack and throw your pitches.”
After a scoreless fourth and fifth inning, ECU got on the board with a deep solo shot to right field in the top of the sixth inning. The damage stopped there however, as a line out to right field would end the inning for the Pirates, putting the score at 5-1.
Wallace exited after six innings of stellar work to go along with four strikeouts, while senior pitcher Brittany Nimmo would attempt to close the game for the Pack. Things got interesting for NC State as Nimmo would record two outs, but would also load the bases, giving the Pirates a chance to tie the game. Luckily for the Pack, freshman pitcher Sydney Nester took over to record the final out. ECU would line out to first on the second pitch from Nester, giving the Pack a 5-1 win.
Wolfpack head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift was pleased with her team’s performance and is looking ahead to a three-game series against Notre Dame this weekend.
“We’re looking to win three,” Patrick-Swift said. “That’s our expectation. Going into every weekend we want to be the best team.”
The Pack will take on the Notre Dame Friday at 6 p.m. on the road.
