In the second game of its ACC/Big Ten Challenge doubleheader Friday night, the NC State softball team fell to Wisconsin 3-1 at Dail Softball Stadium
For the second game in a row, the Wolfpack (3-4) struggled to get anything going on offense, racking up just four hits.
“We just couldn’t get the bats going,” NC State head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift said. “We couldn’t find a way to put [runs] on the board.”
The Badgers (6-1) got on the board first, getting to junior right-hander Devin Wallace in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Jolie Fish.
NC State answered back in the top of the third, with sophomore third baseman Logan Morris plating junior designated player Skylar Johnston on a fielder’s choice to tie the game at 1-1. With a runner on third base and two outs, junior right fielder Brigette Nordberg grounded out to third base to end the inning.
Wisconsin struck again in the third inning, plating two runs on a fielder’s choice and a wild pitch by Wallace, taking back the lead for good, 3-1.
Despite a six-inning complete game, Wallace (1-1, 1.64 ERA) took the loss for the Wolfpack, allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks, striking out five.
“If a pitcher throws a four-hitter, we should win a game for her,” Patrick-Swift said. “It’s a shame. She threw well.”
Johnston (2 for 3, run) led the Pack with two hits, while sophomore left fielder Sam Russ (1 for 3) and Morris (1 for 3, RBI) each picked up a single.
“We all looked timid and scared up there,” junior center fielder Angie Rizzi said. “We didn’t come prepared.”
An offensive-minded coach, Patrick-Swift didn’t like what she saw from her offense’s approach at the plate.
“We didn’t take one single swing that was our swing,” Patrick-Swift said. “We practice the approach, but applying it in the game, we just couldn’t do it.”
The Pack couldn’t figure out Wisconsin junior right-hander Kaitlyn Menz (1-0, 1.00 ERA), who threw seven innings of one-run ball, striking out six batters and walking just two. NC State had its chances to put some runs on the board, but the Wolfpack stranded five runners on base.
“It all had to do with [Menz’] changeup,” Rizzi said. “With runners on base, we have to drive them in. That’s what lost us the game.”
Continuing a pattern to start the season of struggling to score runs, the Pack’s lone run of the game extended its streak of games scoring fewer than five runs to four games.
The Wolfpack will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 16, when it takes on Nebraska at 2:30 p.m. at Dail Softball Stadium.
