Offensive Attack Leads Wolfpack to Doubleheader Victory

Friday, April 2

Raleigh, N.C.

12:00 PM

NC State

15-11

North Carolina A&T

7-18

North Carolina A&T

NC State

Offensive Attack Leads Wolfpack to Doubleheader Victory

4/2/2021 6:17:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Sam Russ sets NC State's all-time career stolen base record

RALEIGH, N.C. – A strong, balanced offensive attack led the NC State softball team to a pair of wins Friday against North Carolina A&T. Excellent pitching and a balanced offensive effort pushed NC State (16-11) to the six-inning 8-0 win in game one, followed by a 14-1 five-inning victory in the second game.

Sam Russ became the Wolfpack's all-time leader in career stolen bases following two in the first game. Russ ended the day with 88 in her career and she keeps adding to her school record. The junior also holds NC State's single-season record with 32 in 2019 and is 17-of-19 this season.

Angie Rizzi went 2-for-6 on the day, with five runs scored, three RBI and a home run. Rizzi was one of five different members of the Pack to hit a home run in the second game. Libby Whittaker had an outstanding performance in game two, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored.

Abby Trahan started in the circle in game on for NC State. Trahan (8-4) pitched the complete shutout 6.0 innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts, one hit and one walk. Sydney Nester continued the stellar effort in the circle, picking up her fifth win of the season in game two. Nester (5-6) threw 4.0 innings where she allowed one run on one hit with six strikeouts and one walk. Brooklyn Lucero pitched a shutout inning of relief.

GAME ONE RECAP
Both offenses were relatively quiet in the first inning as neither team notched a hit or run, however, NC State's offense came alive in the second inning as the Wolfpack tallied five runs on five hits for an early 5-0 lead.

After three consecutive hitless innings, NC State gained momentum behind singles by Rizzi and Russ. Rizzi came around to score on a wild pitch, increasing the Wolfpack's lead to 6-0, before an RBI-double by Sam Sack increased the lead to 7-0. The game ending run scored on an error by the Aggies' centerfielder, scoring pinch runner Kelsey O'Connor from third.

GAME TWO RECAP
NC State had its best offensive performance of the season, with season-best runs scored, hits and home runs. The game was notched 1-1 after the first inning, NC State rallied with 14 unanswered runs for its second-straight run-rule victory.

With a 8-1 lead, NC State unleashed for six runs on five hits in the fourth inning including three home runs. The inning started in exciting fashion, as Madeline Curtis pinch hit and notched her first career home run. The Wolfpack then loaded the bases on a singles by Whittaker and Rizzi and a walk to Kaylee Lambrecht. A wild pitch plated a run before Russ and Farricker hit home runs to bring the run total to 14.

OF NOTE

Russ' career record came in the sixth inning of the first game, recording her 87^th stolen base. Russ passed Shanna Smith who played for the Wolfpack in 2005-08. Russ reached the mark in only 156 career games, 105 fewer than Smith.
NC State's five home runs in game two ties for the fifth most in a single game in school history. It is also tied for the eighth most in the NCAA this season, and the second most by an ACC team. All five home runs came by different players, including three in the fourth inning.
The three home runs in an inning were the most for NC State since March 12, 2019 against Charleston Southern where the Pack hit three in the eighth inning.
Fifth time in program history NC State has had five or more individual players record a home run in a single game. The most ever came March 2, 2013 against North Carolina A&T with six.
NC State now has 12 players with at least one home run this season, including five with five or more.