NC State
USC Upstate
Pack Drops Doubleheader At USC Upstate
3/22/2017 7:33:00 PM | Softball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The NC State softball team dropped its doubleheader at USC Upstate on Wednesday, falling to the Spartans 9-1 in the first game and 9-0 in the nightcap.
After the midweek contest the Wolfpack moves to 11-18 (5-1 ACC) and the Spartans improve to 25-6 (0-0 ASUN) on the season.
Game One Rewind
-The Spartans struck first as Ryan Rector hit a grand slam to left field to give her team an early 4-0 lead. Ansley Gilstrap was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and back-to-back singles by Karla Beasley and Abbie Millete loaded the bases.
-In the second inning Upstate plated four more runs. Kristen Wright added a run on a sacrifice fly by Megan Obier to right field, which was followed by Beasley's three-run homer to left field.
-In the fifth inning Cheyenne Balzer belted her third home run of the season to right field for the Pack's lone run of the game.
-The Spartans answered in the bottom of the frame as Rector scored on pinch hitter Kori Wancheck's sacrifice fly to center field. She led off the scoring play with a one-out double to left center, and advanced to third on a single to left field by Brittany Case.
-Peyton Silverman earned the start in the circle, pitching her 12th complete game of the year.
Game Two Rewind
-Both teams were kept at bay in the first inning, but the Spartans grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Kayla Hussey singled to right field to bring Obier across home plate, and Rector hit a 2-RBI single to center field on loaded bases.
-The Pack threatened in the third inning with runners left on first and second.
-Upstate extended its lead to 7-0 on Alicia Dorgan's grand slam to left field. Back-to-back singles by Millete and Case to the right part of the outfield and Obier's eight-pitch walk loaded the bases.
-NC State threatened again in the fourth inning as pinch runner Geena Autry was left on third base after Molly Hutchison drew a leadoff walk.
-The Spartans plated two more runs in the bottom of the frame on Hussey's 2-RBI single to center field on loaded bases.
-Brittany Nimmo pitched her fifth complete game of the season, and Alyssa Compton and Haley Finn tallied one hit apiece in their two plate appearances.
On Deck
NC State will play a three-game series at No. 28/25 UNC-Chapel Hill this weekend. First pitch Friday has been moved up to 5 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday's games are slated for a 1 p.m. start at the Anderson Softball Stadium.
