North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Softball Opens Fall Schedule with Four Shutout Wins
10/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State softball team opened its fall schedule over the weekend in dominating fashion, collecting four shutout wins and outscoring opponents, 15-0. The Wolfpack swept Saturday's doubleheader at Longwood and won both games of a twin bill against Campbell at Dail Stadium.
State won game one against Longwood, 4-0, before taking the second game by a 6-0 margin. On Sunday, the Pack defeated Campbell, 4-0 in game one and 1-0 in game two.
Rychcik's Review
On the performance of the pitchers...
"I was really pleased with our pitchers," said head coach Shawn Rychcik. "Their velocity was up and their stamina was also really good. Obviously, for the first couple of outings their control is still going to need some work, but to have four shutouts and limit the opponents to 10 hits in four games is a really good start for our pitching staff."
On pitcher's individually...
"Courtney Mirabella has had a great fall and I was really impressed with the way she pitched this weekend. She struck out 22 batters in two games, a really big step from last season. Emily Weiman was in regular season form and threw the ball well. Harli Hubbard pitched three innings and will get more work this weekend, but I was really pleased with her composure and velocity."
On the team's hitting...
"I thought we did a decent job. There's still room for improvement and the more live pitching we see the better we'll be at the plate. Freshmen Meredith Burroughs and Alyssa Compton both had good weekends with the bat and I'm real pleased with where they are.
"We've got a lot of potential in our lineup, but we've got to continue to get better."
Worth Noting from Saturday's Games at Longwood
- Sophomore Tyler Ross hit a two-run triple in the fourth inning of game one against Longwood, as the Wolfpack took a 2-0 lead.
- NC State added to its lead in the sixth following a two-run home run from senior Sara Lippard to make it 4-0.
- Mirabella went the distance in the circle and struck out 13 batters in her seven innings of work, while only allowing four hits.
- In game two, State defeated Longwood by a score of 6-0. Junior Hanna Sommer ignited the offense for the Wolfpack with an RBI single.
- Compton had an excellent game, as she was 3-for-3 at the plate and had three runs batted in (RBI).
- Senior Renada Davis appeared to hit a three-run homer, but instead settled for a two-run double as the ball bounced off the top of the fence and back into play and was ruled a double.
- In the circle, senior Emily Weiman started the contest and pitched six innings to earn the win. She had 10 strikeouts in the contest, highlighted by fanning 9-of-11 batters faced from the third to the sixth inning.
- Freshman Harli Hubbard relieved Weiman and pitched the final inning of work to put the finishing touches on the combined no-hitter.
Worth Noting from Sunday's Games vs. Campbell
- Burroughs, a freshman from Pikeville, N.C., paced the Wolfpack at the plate in the first game of the doubleheader with three hits in three plate appearances, including a two-run homer in the fifth inning.
- Sophomore Molly Hutchison drove in the other two runs of the game on a two-run blast in the third inning to score Davis, who singled earlier in the frame.
- Junior Hanna Sommer and Compton also contributed offensively, as they were both 2-for-2 in the contest.
- Weiman pitched five strong innings striking out six hitters. Hubbard came on to pitch the sixth and seventh collecting a strikeout.
- Mirabella started the second game in the circle and hurled seven shutout innings, while only allowing two hits and striking out nine.
- Ross provided the offense in the game with a solo home run, while Davis and freshman Macauley Prickett also added a hit.
Up Next
NC State will concluded its fall slate this weekend after it hosts the Elon Phoenix in a doubleheader on Friday and Pitt Community College in a twin bill on Saturday. Friday's games are set to begin at 5 p.m., while first pitch of Saturday's contests are slated for noon.
