Defense, Pitching Lead Wolfpack to Series Win at Virginia Tech

Sunday, April 26

Blacksburg, Va.

3:30 PM

NC State

30-19, 11-8

Virginia Tech

33-14, 8-10

NC State

Virginia Tech

Senior pitcher Emily Weiman celebrates after a strikeout

Defense, Pitching Lead Wolfpack to Series Win at Virginia Tech

4/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

April 26, 2015

Box Score (Game One) | Box Score (Game Two)

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- A couple of stellar pitching performances by senior Emily Weiman and great defense, helped the NC State softball team earn a pair of shutout wins to clinch the series against Virginia Tech Sunday afternoon at Tech Softball Park. The Wolfpack won game one of the doubleheader, 4-0, and collected a 2-0 victory in the second game of the twin bill.

State improves to 31-19 on the season and 12-8 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, while Tech falls to 33-15 and 8-11 in conference action.

Weiman started both games in the circle for the Pack and turned in a pair of standout pitching performances. She allowed just five hits over the two games, retiring 11 consecutive batters in game one and 20 consecutive batters to end the second game.

Rychcik's Review
"Outstanding job by our pitching and defense today," said head coach Shawn Rychcik. "We really did a good job of controlling their offense and they're a good offensive team. Defensively, we were super sound and made a lot of tough plays look routine.

"We got the timely hits when we needed them. In the first game it was Tyler Ross and in the second game it was Molly Hutchison. We got two really good wins today to clinch the series and to get the shutouts is a bonus."

On the performance of pitcher Emily Weiman...
"I thought Emily was really good in the circle today and was even better in game two, facing just one batter over the minimum."

Quick Hits (Game One)
- NC State wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in game one of the doubleheader, as the Wolfpack took a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by freshman Meredith Burroughs in the first inning.
- Sophomore Molly Hutchison drew a two-out walk and raced around to score from first base on Burroughs' double to plate the Pack's first run.
- The Wolfpack extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the sixth with three runs in the frame. With runners on second and third base, senior Renada Davis was intentionally walked to load the bases.
- Sophomore Tyler Ross came up big for the Pack with a single down the right field line to plate a pair of runs, as junior Lana Van Dyken scored from third base and senior Morgan Tharrington scored from second base.
- With Ross on first and Davis on third base, State pulled off the double steal as Davis scampered home to score on the throw to second base attempting to catch Ross to make it 4-0 in favor of the Wolfpack.

Quick Hits (Game Two)
- State plated two runs in the fifth inning, as Hutchison smacked her team-leading 13^th home run over the fence in right center to put the Wolfpack ahead, 2-0. Ross walked prior to Hutchison's at-bat to score on the play and that proved to be the only runs scored in the contest.

Inside the Box Score
- Ross and Tharrington led the Wolfpack at the plate in game one of the twin bill, each with 2-for-4 performances. Burroughs, Compton, Davis and Van Dyken had one hit apiece in the contest.
- In game two, Davis and Hutchison were both 2-for-4, while Tharrington was 2-for-3. Ross, Van Dyken and sophomore Hannah Yeager each had one hit.

In the Pitcher's Circle
- Virginia Tech batters had no answer for Weiman on the day, as she turned in a pair of phenomenal outings to earn two shutout wins. She struck out the side in the second and third inning of game one en route to an 11 strikeout performance, highlighted by getting three called strikeouts in the third.
- She retired 11 consecutive batters at one point in the contest, spanning from the first to the fourth inning.
- In game two, Weiman allowed a hit in the first inning and then retired 20 consecutive batters to end the game, not allowing another baserunner. She collected six strikeouts in a one-hit shutout performance, facing one batter over the minimum (22).

On Deck
The Wolfpack will return to action on Monday for the series finale against Virginia Tech. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. in a contest that will air live on ESPNU from Tech Softball Park.

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