In an Easter Sunday series rubber match, the NC State softball team defeated Duke 5-4 at Duke Softball Stadium to clinch the weekend series.
A three-hit performance by sophomore left fielder Sam Russ and home runs from junior right fielder Brigette Nordberg, junior infielder Skylar Johnston and freshman shortstop April Visser powered the Wolfpack (25-22, 6-12 ACC) to its best offensive output in five games.
The Blue Devils (24-27, 11-10 ACC) got the scoring started early, roughing up freshman right-hander Sydney Nester for two runs in the bottom of the second inning, taking a 2-0 lead.
NC State answered right back in the top of the third inning, as Russ (3 for 4) singled up the middle to lead off the inning and Nordberg (1 for 4, HR) followed up with a two-run home run to left field, evening the score at 2-2.
After sophomore third baseman Logan Morris (1 for 2, two BBs) drew a walk right after Nordberg’s home run, Johnston (1 for 4, two RBIs) came through with a two-run shot of her own, drilling the first pitch she saw over the center-field wall to put the Wolfpack up 4-2.
The home run party wasn’t done just yet; just two pitches later Visser (2 for 4, HR) launched a solo home run to right field, her fourth home run in her last six games, to extend the Pack’s lead to 5-2.
Nester held the Blue Devils scoreless through the next three innings, but a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh cut NC State’s lead to 5-4 and put the tying run on first base with just one out. The freshman held strong though, forcing a groundout and a strikeout from the next two batters to seal the win.
After struggling for the first half of the season, Visser has caught fire as of late, hitting .458 with five home runs in her last eight games.
NC State’s offense came back to life on Easter Sunday, racking up eight hits, drawing four walks and stranding just six runners on base in its best offensive performance since a 9-4 win over Notre Dame on April 13.
The Wolfpack’s series win over Duke was its second of the season and gives the Pack some much-needed momentum as it works to fight its way into the ACC Tournament.
NC State will return to action on Tuesday at 6 p.m. when it takes on North Carolina Central at Dail Softball Stadium.
