North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Take Down #21 Ole Miss to Open 2020 Season
2/7/2020 11:55:00 PM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The NC State softball team opened its 2020 season with a statement win Friday afternoon, taking down No. 21/25 Ole Miss, 3-2. The Pack then later fell to #8/7 Minnesota, 13-7, to open the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a 1-1 record.
Tatyana Forbes led the Pack, going a combined 4-for-8 with one run scored and three RBIs. Brigette Nordberg went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the Pack's win against Ole Miss.
Sydney Nester (1-0) pitched a complete game against Ole Miss, allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits and tallying eight strikeouts. The sophomore gave up only one extra base hit in her first outing of 2020.
OLE MISS RECAP
All three of NC State's runs came in the second inning, as the NC State defense fended off several comeback threats by Ole Miss. Nordberg opened the second inning with a single to left field, before advancing to second on a wild pitch. An RBI-single from Sam Sack put the Wolfpack on the board first before April Visser delivered the first homer of the season – a two run blast over the right field fence.
Ole Miss looked to respond quickly with three singles in the bottom of the second, making the score 3-1, but was quickly shut down by a strikeout from Nester. Ole Miss would leave six runners on base across the next four innings.
Three fielding errors in the bottom of the seventh put the winning run for Ole Miss on third base, but Skylar Johnston made a spectacular play at first to clinch the season opening win.
MINNESOTA RECAP
Minnesota opened the game with a quick 3-0 lead in the first before NC State answered back with two runs in the second, keeping it to a one-run game. Natalie DenHartog hit a two-run home run in the second inning for a 5-2 lead. The Wolfpack kept hitting back, tacking on two runs in the second inning off a two-RBI single from Forbes.
After the Gophers took a 13-4 lead, which included a five-run fourth inning, NC State clawed its way back in it with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. After loading the bases, Russ delivered a two-RBI single before a single from Morris scored the third run. Despite not being able to narrow the gap closer, NC State put up a total of seven hits and four runs (three earned) off of All-American Amber Fiser.
Devin Wallace earned the decision, pitching a total of five innings where she allowed seven runs (four earned) off of three hits with three strikeouts. Wallace started the game and pitched the opening two innings before Sam Gress came in relief. Gress pitched two innings before Wallace came in to conclude the game.
OF NOTE
- Russ, who recorded hits in both games, now holds an 11-game hit streak and 14-game on-base streak, dating back to last season.
- Friday's win over Ole Miss is only the second time in program history NC State has opened its season with a win against a program opponent. The last time was a 2-1 win over #7 Oklahoma in 2009.
- With her five innings pitched against Minnesota, Wallace now ranks fifth all-time at NC State with 375.1 career innings pitched.
- Eight different NC State batters recorded hits against Ole Miss.
UP NEXT
NC State continues play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, taking on another top-25 opponent Saturday in #15/16 Kentucky. Saturday concludes with a game against Missouri State.
Players Mentioned
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