RALEIGH, N.C. – Representing the sixth school from the Atlantic Coast Conference to do battle with the Presbyterian College softball team since the Blue Hose shifted to the Division I ranks, the NC State Wolfpack downed PC on Saturday by respective decisions of 10-0 and 9-0.
A two-time ACC regular season champion and former conference tournament winner, the Wolfpack clinched the series on Saturday in what is Presby's final set against an opponent outside of the Big South.
NC State recorded five separate innings with three scores or more against the Blue Hose, now prepping for Game 3 in Raleigh on Sunday at 1:00 PM.
GAME ONE – NC STATE (24-20, 3-14) def. PRESBYTERIAN (14-30, 4-8) – 10-0 (5 INNINGS)
- Fifth-year pitcher
Jenna Greene kicked off the series with her 102
nd career start, recently surpassing 700 strikeouts last weekend against Palmetto rival USC Upstate. Freshman
Kasey Wolfe succeeded the last 3.1 innings.
- Lead-off third baseman
Kelby Goodrum delivered a base hit in her first two at-bats, although the Blue Hose were able to muster just one other connection elsewhere from shortstop
Emma Yanes.
- All of NC State's first six runs were carried out with RBI-singles, doing the rest of their work with a passed ball and three-run homer in the bottom of the 5
th.
GAME TWO – NC STATE (25-20, 3-14) def. PRESBYTERIAN (14-31, 4-8) – 9-0 (5 INNINGS)
- The offense was again sparse against an opponent who has already toppled four nationally-ranked opponents this semester, with PC reaching two hits in the second defeat.
- Senior infielder
Kaitlyn Tucker and nine-hole hitter
Kara Starnes were responsible for those swings, as sophomore
Peyton Duncan got the starting nod in the circle.
- After limiting the Wolfpack to only one run in the 1
st, NC State created distance with a five-spot in the bottom of the 3
rd that preceded three more in the next frame. The home side cleared the fence three times in Game 2, and four times overall in the DH.
UP NEXT
- This is the first time in Presbyterian's history that a three-game series against a "Power 5" university has been played. Game 3 from the North Carolina capital is planned for 1:00 tomorrow, streamed once more on ACCNX (ACC Network Extra).
