Pack Takes Down Top-Seeded Virginia Tech, Moves on to ACC Championship Semifinals

Thursday, May 9

Tallahassee, Fla.

11 AM

NC State

31-26

Virginia Tech (ACC Championship QF)

45-9

NC State

Virginia Tech

Photo by: ACC

Pack Takes Down Top-Seeded Virginia Tech, Moves on to ACC Championship Semifinals

5/9/2019 2:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

TALLAHASSE, Fla. – NC State softball is headed to the ACC Championship semifinals after making a statement in the quarterfinal round with a 3-2 upset over top-seeded Virginia Tech Thursday afternoon at JoAnne Graf Field.

With the win, the Wolfpack improves to 31-26 on its way to advancing in the tournament, while the Hokies fall to 45-9 on the season.

The Pack's upset over the Hokies marked the first time since the 2011 ACC Championship that the No. 1 seed has lost its first game of the tournament. NC State becomes the No. 8 seed since that same season to advance to the semifinal round.

Ticket punched to the #ACCSB Championship semifinals! Way to play, @PackSoftball! #GoPack #STATEment pic.twitter.com/BLrJZ9vyiq
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) May 9, 2019

OF NOTE:
- NC State has now won five ACC Championship games in a row in Tallahassee after its two wins in 2019 and its three victories on the way to claiming the conference title when it was hosted by Florida State in 2013.
- The Pack has advanced to the semifinal round in each of its last three appearances in the ACC Championship, most recently earning a spot as one of the final four teams during the 2017 season.
- After a weekend sweep to close out the regular season and two victories to open tournament action, NC State currently finds itself on a five-game winning streak. It is the longest such streak for the team this season since it won eight in a row from Feb. 24 to March 3.
- The Wolfpack continues to find strength after taking an early lead as the squad is now an impressive 25-1 on the year in games in which it gets on the board first.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Devin Wallace and Kama Woodall once again combined for the decision for NC State's pitching staff as Wallace picked up the win and Woodall was credited with the save. Each pitcher gave up just two hits apiece. Wallace left the game with the 3-2 lead, and Woodall pitched three shutout innings to close out the Pack's win.
- Logan Morris went 2-for-3 on the day, tallying the first RBI of the outing in the first inning to put NC State up early. She went on to lead off with another single in the top of the fourth inning that put her on base to eventually score a run.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pack got off to a fast start as a pair of first-inning hits put the squad on the board in the top of the frame. Sam Russ led the game off with a single out to left field and moved into scoring position on a ground out. Morris then sent an RBI single through the right side to plate Sam.
- A one-out home run by Virginia Tech's Maddi Banks tied the score at one in the bottom of the third inning.
- NC State strung together three hits in a row to start off the fourth inning and regain its lead in the game. Morris singled to left field for her second hit of the outing and took third on a double by Skylar Johnston that put Wolfpack runners on second and third with no one out. Brigette Nordberg sent a ball over the shortstop's head for another single that plated Morris.
- The Wolfpack added a run in the next at bat as a fielder's choice to the shortstop drove Johnston home from third.
- The Hokies drew back within a run in the bottom of the fifth as another solo homer, this one by Mackenzie Lawter to center field, put the score at 3-2 where it would stay for the remainder of the game.

ON DECK:
NC State will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Louisville and UNC-Chapel Hill at 1 p.m. on Friday. The game will be broadcast live on the league's Regional Sports Networks.