Friday, February 14
Raleigh, N.C.
4:00 PM
NC State
3-3
5
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Ohio State
3-2
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Ohio State
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NC State
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1
Morris Hits Walk-Off Home Run in Home Opener
2/14/2020 8:13:00 PM | Softball
RALEIGH – Despite being down 3-0 in the sixth inning to RV/RV Ohio State, the NC State softball team fought all the way back to a 5-3 victory Friday evening, including a walk-off home run by junior Logan Morris. It was the first walk-off home run of Morris' career.
All five of NC State's runs came from homers in the sixth and seventh inning, with senior Brigette Nordberg recording her second of the season. Friday's game was the Wolfpack's opening game of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and marked NC State's first win the challenge since 2018.
Ohio State's pitcher, Payton Buresch, entered the game with a 0.64 ERA, previously allowing just four runs (two earned) through four games. The junior transfer had not allowed five or more earned runs since her freshman season in the NCAA Regional. Sydney Nester pitched the complete game for NC State, allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
"We focus on us and what we do," said head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift. "We don't focus on the other dugout. If we play our style ball - which is to hit the long ball and pitching wise keep it in the park - then we have the chance to win a lot of games."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ohio State took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning following a sacrifice fly and an RBI-double. The Buckeyes tacked onto their lead with a solo home run by freshman Avery Clark. Randi Farricker led of the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field before Nordberg blasted it over the center field fence.
Nester pitched a quick top of the seventh with two strikeouts, allowing just one single to center field. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Sam Russ singled to center field before stealing her second base of the game. Forbes' third hit of the game put runners on the corner for NC State before Morris walked it off.
OF NOTE
UP NEXT
NC State continues the 2020 Big Ten/ACC Challenge with a pair of games Saturday, Feb. 15. The Wolfpack will face off against Ohio State once again at 12:30 p.m. before matching up against Illinois at 5:30 p.m.
All five of NC State's runs came from homers in the sixth and seventh inning, with senior Brigette Nordberg recording her second of the season. Friday's game was the Wolfpack's opening game of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and marked NC State's first win the challenge since 2018.
Ohio State's pitcher, Payton Buresch, entered the game with a 0.64 ERA, previously allowing just four runs (two earned) through four games. The junior transfer had not allowed five or more earned runs since her freshman season in the NCAA Regional. Sydney Nester pitched the complete game for NC State, allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.
"We focus on us and what we do," said head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift. "We don't focus on the other dugout. If we play our style ball - which is to hit the long ball and pitching wise keep it in the park - then we have the chance to win a lot of games."
.@lomo__10 called game 😤 pic.twitter.com/P7ThRrotBw
— PackSoftball🥎 (@PackSoftball) February 15, 2020
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ohio State took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning following a sacrifice fly and an RBI-double. The Buckeyes tacked onto their lead with a solo home run by freshman Avery Clark. Randi Farricker led of the bottom of the sixth with a single to center field before Nordberg blasted it over the center field fence.
Nester pitched a quick top of the seventh with two strikeouts, allowing just one single to center field. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Sam Russ singled to center field before stealing her second base of the game. Forbes' third hit of the game put runners on the corner for NC State before Morris walked it off.
OF NOTE
- Tatyana Forbes led NC State once again with a 3-for-4 performance, including a run scored. Forbes is now hitting .524 on the season and has two or more hits in four of the six games this season.
- Sam Russ stole two bases Friday against the Buckeyes, tying her career-high for the sixth time. Russ currently has 53 stolen bases in her career, four shy of second all-time at NC State.
- Friday's home runs were the 20th of both Morris and Nordberg's career.
UP NEXT
NC State continues the 2020 Big Ten/ACC Challenge with a pair of games Saturday, Feb. 15. The Wolfpack will face off against Ohio State once again at 12:30 p.m. before matching up against Illinois at 5:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nester, Sydney (2-2)
L: Buresch, Payton (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Pack, Taylor 1 ; Nicholson, Claire 1
HR: Clark, Avery 1
RBI: Clark, Avery 1 ; McMenemy, Megan 1 ; Nicholson, Claire 1
SF: McMenemy, Megan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Clark, Avery 1 ; Rodriguez, Mariah 1 ; Pack, Taylor 1
SB: Otte, Meg 1
Batting:
HR: Morris, Logan 1 ; Nordberg, Brigette 1
RBI: Morris, Logan 3 ; Nordberg, Brigette 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Russ, Sam 1 ; Forbes, Tatyana 1 ; Morris, Logan 1 ; Farricker, Randi 1 ; Nordberg, Brigette 1
SB: Russ, Sam 2 ; Rizzi, Angie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
IF
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/ Softball
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