Friday, February 23
Raleigh, NC
2:30 PM
NC State
7-4
8
vs
0
Delaware State
0-6
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Delaware State
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
NC State
1
0
2
4
1
8
11
0
Softball Sweeps Opening Day Of Homewood Suites By Hilton RDU/RTP Invite
2/23/2018 8:13:00 PM | Softball
RALEIGH – The NC State softball team swept its doubleheader on Friday at the Homewood Suites by Hilton RDU/RTP Invitational at Dail Stadium, dominating Delaware State 8-0 in five innings and making a late surge in the nightcap to defeat Wagner 3-0.
Thanks to its pair of shutout wins, including Devin Wallace's no-hitter in the second game, Wolfpack improves to 8-4 on the season while the Hornets fall to 0-6 and Seahawks move to 0-2. Including Wednesday's shutout against Elon the Pack has not allowed a run to score in three consecutive games.
RYCHCIK'S REVIEW
"I thought our pitching staff did an outstanding job today," said head coach Shawn Rychcik. "Brittany (Nimmo) and Harli (Hubbard) combined for the shutout in the first game and Devin (Wallace) finished the second game with a no-hitter to shut down both teams offensively. Our pitching staff is growing and maturing on the mound.
"In the first game we got to open it up with the bats and game two was a little tighter, but defensively we were strong in both games. We didn't have any errors on the day and turned a couple of good double plays.
"Overall they were just quality wins. We're in the middle of a six-game stretch this week and every game isn't going to be a blowout. We're going to have to win some closer games. I look at the big picture and can take away from today a no-hitter, two shutouts, great defense and some timely hitting, and that's exactly what you want as a coach."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One
-NC State struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Jade Caraway was walked to lead off the frame, and Cheyenne Balzer brought her across home plate with an RBI-single to left field.
-In the third inning Balzer tallied her second hit of the day when she hit a two-run blast to left center after Sam Russ drew a leadoff walk.
-The Pack scored four runs on as many hits in the fourth inning, extending its lead to seven. Lily Bishop's RBI single to through the left gap allowed the first run of the frame to score. Balzer's second home run of the day, a three-run blast to right center, brought in the other three runs as Natalie Jones led off the frame with a single to center field and Caraway drew a one-out walk.
-In the fifth inning Haylee Kobziak replaced Bishop in the lineup and brought in the winning run with a double to right field, scoring Angie Rizzi from second after she led off with a single through the left side.
Inside The Box Score
-Balzer led the team at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance with a pair of home runs and six RBI.
-Timberlyn Shurbutt was 2-for-3 in the game as she hit the first triple of her career in the fourth inning.
-Brittany Nimmo and Harli Hubbard combined for the shutout in the circle as they gave up three hits. Nimmo earned her first start as well as her first win of the season, pitching four innings.
-Caraway drew three walks in the game for a team-best nine this season, while she and Russ each tallied a stolen base.
Game Two
-After five scoreless innings, the Pack plated its three runs in the sixth. Caraway and Russ both singled to lead off the frame, and after a double steal started the threat Caraway scored on a 6-5 fielder's choice.
-Shurbutt then hit a two-run shot to left center to bring in the other two runs as Jones came in to pinch hit for Bishop after she reached on the fielder's choice.
Inside the Box Score
-Shurbutt went 3-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBI, hitting her second home run and fourth double of the season. Balzer also had a strong showing in the second game as she went 2-for-3.
-Wallace picked up the win in the circle as she threw the first no-hitter of her career. The last time a Wolfpack pitcher threw a no-hitter was on May 2, 2015, by Emily Weiman at Appalachian State. She improves to 4-2 on the season.
-Caraway and Russ each tallied a stolen base in the nightcap, giving Caraway three and Russ a team-best six this season.
UP NEXT
NC State will continue play in the Homewood Suites by Hilton RDU/RTP Invitational Saturday when it faces Ohio at 12:15 p.m. The No. 1 and 4 seeds in the tournament will then meet at 2:30 p.m. while the No. 2 and 3 seeds will play at 4:45 p.m. Sunday the winners from both games will meet in the championship game at 12:15 p.m., while the losers will play in the third-place game at 10 a.m.
Thanks to its pair of shutout wins, including Devin Wallace's no-hitter in the second game, Wolfpack improves to 8-4 on the season while the Hornets fall to 0-6 and Seahawks move to 0-2. Including Wednesday's shutout against Elon the Pack has not allowed a run to score in three consecutive games.
RYCHCIK'S REVIEW
"I thought our pitching staff did an outstanding job today," said head coach Shawn Rychcik. "Brittany (Nimmo) and Harli (Hubbard) combined for the shutout in the first game and Devin (Wallace) finished the second game with a no-hitter to shut down both teams offensively. Our pitching staff is growing and maturing on the mound.
"In the first game we got to open it up with the bats and game two was a little tighter, but defensively we were strong in both games. We didn't have any errors on the day and turned a couple of good double plays.
"Overall they were just quality wins. We're in the middle of a six-game stretch this week and every game isn't going to be a blowout. We're going to have to win some closer games. I look at the big picture and can take away from today a no-hitter, two shutouts, great defense and some timely hitting, and that's exactly what you want as a coach."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One
-NC State struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Jade Caraway was walked to lead off the frame, and Cheyenne Balzer brought her across home plate with an RBI-single to left field.
-In the third inning Balzer tallied her second hit of the day when she hit a two-run blast to left center after Sam Russ drew a leadoff walk.
-The Pack scored four runs on as many hits in the fourth inning, extending its lead to seven. Lily Bishop's RBI single to through the left gap allowed the first run of the frame to score. Balzer's second home run of the day, a three-run blast to right center, brought in the other three runs as Natalie Jones led off the frame with a single to center field and Caraway drew a one-out walk.
-In the fifth inning Haylee Kobziak replaced Bishop in the lineup and brought in the winning run with a double to right field, scoring Angie Rizzi from second after she led off with a single through the left side.
Inside The Box Score
-Balzer led the team at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance with a pair of home runs and six RBI.
-Timberlyn Shurbutt was 2-for-3 in the game as she hit the first triple of her career in the fourth inning.
-Brittany Nimmo and Harli Hubbard combined for the shutout in the circle as they gave up three hits. Nimmo earned her first start as well as her first win of the season, pitching four innings.
-Caraway drew three walks in the game for a team-best nine this season, while she and Russ each tallied a stolen base.
Game Two
-After five scoreless innings, the Pack plated its three runs in the sixth. Caraway and Russ both singled to lead off the frame, and after a double steal started the threat Caraway scored on a 6-5 fielder's choice.
-Shurbutt then hit a two-run shot to left center to bring in the other two runs as Jones came in to pinch hit for Bishop after she reached on the fielder's choice.
Inside the Box Score
-Shurbutt went 3-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBI, hitting her second home run and fourth double of the season. Balzer also had a strong showing in the second game as she went 2-for-3.
-Wallace picked up the win in the circle as she threw the first no-hitter of her career. The last time a Wolfpack pitcher threw a no-hitter was on May 2, 2015, by Emily Weiman at Appalachian State. She improves to 4-2 on the season.
-Caraway and Russ each tallied a stolen base in the nightcap, giving Caraway three and Russ a team-best six this season.
UP NEXT
NC State will continue play in the Homewood Suites by Hilton RDU/RTP Invitational Saturday when it faces Ohio at 12:15 p.m. The No. 1 and 4 seeds in the tournament will then meet at 2:30 p.m. while the No. 2 and 3 seeds will play at 4:45 p.m. Sunday the winners from both games will meet in the championship game at 12:15 p.m., while the losers will play in the third-place game at 10 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nimmo, Brittany (1-0)
L: GOLDSBY,ALEXIS (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Kobziak, Haylee 1
3B: Shurbutt, Timberlyn 1
HR: Balzer, Cheyenne 2
RBI: Bishop, Lily 1 ; Kobziak, Haylee 1 ; Balzer, Cheyenne 6
SH: Rizzi, Angie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Caraway, Jade 2 ; Russ, Sam 1 ; Bishop, Lily 1 ; Balzer, Cheyenne 2 ; Jones, Natalie 1 ; Rizzi, Angie 1
SB: Caraway, Jade 1 ; Russ, Sam 1
HBP: Compton, Alyssa 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
6
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C/IF
/ SoftballC/IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballC/IF
/ Softball
P/IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball#BehindThe20 with former Pack Stars Abbie Sims and Renada Davis
Wednesday, April 24
Softball: Players Presser (2/15)
Thursday, February 15
Softball: Coach Leftwich Presser (2/15)
Thursday, February 15
EmpowHER with Aisha Weixlmann #Shorts #NCState #GoPack
Monday, October 16