The NC State softball team won both games of its doubleheader on Sunday at Dail Softball Stadium, beating the University of Maryland Baltimore County 2-1 and Murray State 9-1.
In the only two weekend games of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Crabtree Invitational that weren’t rained out, the Wolfpack (5-6) received contributions in every phase of the game.
In the Pack’s 2-1 win over UMBC (1-2), freshman right-hander Sydney Nester (3-2, 2.55 ERA) picked up the win, striking out seven batters and allowing just two hits in six innings of one-run (zero earned) ball. Junior right-hander Devin Wallace (2-3, 2.36 ERA) got the save for the Pack, striking out two batters in a scoreless seventh inning.
Sophomore infielder Logan Morris drew a bases-loaded walk in the second inning and sophomore outfielder Sam Russ launched a solo home run in the fourth inning to give the Pack all the offense it needed.
The Retrievers threatened to tie the game up in the seventh inning, plating one run on a passed ball and advancing runners to second and third base with two outs before Wallace got a ground ball out to end the game.
Wallace picked up right where she left off in the second game, throwing five shutout innings with four strikeouts and picking up the win over Murray State (4-8). Sophomore right-hander Kama Woodall (0-1, 6.30 ERA) closed out the game for NC State, allowing one run on one hit in her lone inning of work.
The Wolfpack’s bats got hot for the first time since a Feb. 8 win over Illinois State, racking up 11 hits and striking out just one time.
Freshman catcher Kelli Wagner led the team with three hits, junior outfielder Bridgette Nordberg went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs, junior designated player Skylar Johnston picked up two hits, Russ hit a home run for the second straight game and senior first baseman Jessica Moore launched a three-run home run in the third inning.
The offense did most of its damage in the third inning, with Russ and Moore each hitting a three-run bomb and Johnston delivering an RBI single to take an early 7-0 lead.
The Pack’s nine runs marked its first game with at least five runs since its 10-9 win over Illinois State and its 11 hits were a season high.
NC State will be back in action on Monday at 11 a.m. when it takes on Murray State at Dail Softball Stadium.
Sophomore outfielder Sam Russ takes a swing against Wisconsin on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019 at Dail Softball Stadium. Russ went 1-2 with one run scored and one walk in the Wolfpack’s 6-3 loss to the Badgers.
