Wolfpack Advances to ACC Championship Quarterfinals with 4-3 Win Over Syracuse

Wednesday, May 8

Tallahassee, Fla.

1 PM

NC State

30-26

Syracuse (ACC Championship First Round)

21-32

Syracuse

NC State

Wolfpack Advances to ACC Championship Quarterfinals with 4-3 Win Over Syracuse

5/8/2019 3:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

TALLAHASSE, Fla. – The NC State softball team plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning to build up an early lead that it would not relinquish as it held off Syracuse, 4-3, Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the ACC Championship at JoAnne Graf Field.

The Wolfpack improves to 30-26 and advances to the ACC Championship quarterfinals, while the Syracuse falls to 20-32.

The Pack survives.@PackSoftball is heading to the quarterfinals of the @ACCsoftball tourney. pic.twitter.com/2s9vczD1HG
— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) May 8, 2019

OF NOTE:
- Making its 14th overall ACC Championship appearance and its first since the 2017 season, NC State opened its tournament campaign with a win. The Wolfpack has picked up a tournament-opening victory in each of its last three appearances at the ACC Championship.
- Devin Wallace and Kama Woodall both saw action in Wednesday's game, with Wallace getting the start and the win and Woodall getting credit for the save after entering in relief in the top of the fifth inning.
- Wallace struck out three batters on the day on the way to picking up her 12th win of the year.
- Woodall once again pitched three scoreless innings in relief as she retired nine Orange batters in a row to close out the game. The Wolfpack sophomore has now sent down the last 15 batters that she has faced in her last three appearances.
- Sam Russ and Skylar Johnston each collected a hit on the day, both leading off the innings with singles to get on base.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Syracuse plated a run in the top of the first inning after a single, steal and wild pitch put Alicia Hansen on third. Lailoni Mayfield drew the walk to put runners on the corners for the Orange, and Hansen scored in the midst of a rundown between third and home to give Syracuse the 1-0 lead.
- NC State rebounded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Russ led the Pack's offense off with a single up the middle, and a walk by April Visser put them on first and second. The players pulled off the double steal and each advanced an extra base on a throwing error by Syracuse's catcher. The error scored Russ to tie the score at one.
- Visser, who found herself on third after the play, came home on a passed ball to give NC State the 2-1 lead.
- After reaching first on a walk and moving all the way over to third on the passed ball, Logan Morris added a run for the Pack as a sacrifice fly to right field by Johnston sent her home.
- Both sides went down in order in the second inning before Gabby Teran stepped up to the plate and sent a solo shot to left field.
- In the bottom of the third inning, Chandley Garner came in to pinch hit with the bases loaded. She was hit by a pitch to walk in a run, which put the score at 4-2 in favor of the Pack.
- Syracuse drew back within a run in the top of the next frame. Alex Acevedo drew the leadoff walk, and Bryce Holmgren sent a stand-up double to left center to bat in Acevedo.
- NC State's pitching staff and defense closed out the game with three scoreless innings in a row to secure the victory.

ON DECK:
Wednesday's win advanced NC State to the ACC Championship quarterfinals where it will match up with top-seeded Virginia Tech on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. The game will once again be broadcast by the league's Regional Sports Networks.