State dropped its third straight game yesterday against rival North Carolina 2-1. The loss takes N.C. State to 18-16 (3-6 ACC) on the year and puts 15th-ranked Carolina at 33-7 (10-2 ACC). Starting senior pitcher Mendy McKenzie received the loss taking her to 7-7 on the season and Lisa Norris of Carolina picked up her second win of the weekend in relief taking her to 16-4.
“The game has always come down between our two teams [State and Carolina] to mistakes and we just had one high throw away and if we snag that they don’t score or they only score one run and we stay in it,” coach Lisa Navas said. “I am proud of the kids for fighting and if we play like that every day and take care of our mistakes we aren’t going to lose any more games.”
The Pack, who lost all three games this weekend against Carolina, had a nonexistent offense managing only one run and seven hits in three games after losing both games of the doubleheader on Saturday 4-0.
“If you look at stats, we can’t hit the broad side of a barn but if you watch us play, we do hit the ball and hit it hard,” Navas said. “We are putting it in play, we cut down our strikeouts and that’s what we want to try to do, just get better every day.”
The Pack struck first in the game in the bottom of the third inning due to an RBI single by sophomore Bridget Desbois, which scored sophomore Eliza Jacobellis, who reached on an error. The bats remain silent, however, after the third inning with State only managing three more hits the rest of the game.
“We played with so much heart today. We are hitting it,” freshman Hannah Ojeda said. “We are just not finding the holes right now.”
Carolina was able to tack on two runs in the fifth inning after back-to-back hits and a throwing error by State. Those runs proved enough to seal the victory, with both teams unable to score another run through the rest of the game. Carolina was led by starting pitcher Danielle Spaulding who allowed one run in three innings and went 1-2 with an RBI.
State just couldn’t catch a break, however, thanks to numerous good plays in the field by the Tarheels, including the last play of the game when shortstop Christine Knauer was able to track down a line drive over her head to secure the victory.
“When you get towards the end of the season luck helps you out a bit,” Navas said. “But we have to make our own breaks and we just have to put it together.”
State threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases after hits by junior Allison Presnell and Jacobellis and a walk by sophomore Alyssa Ishibashi, but couldn’t get that big hit in the end.
“We went out there and tried to win every inning and in the seventh we knew it was our last chance so we tried to fight out there,” McKenzie said. “But it just wasn’t enough.”
The softball team returns to action this Tuesday in a doubleheader against Charlotte. The games begin at 4 and 6 p.m. in Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium.
