Box Score Box Score (.pdf)
Raleigh, N.C. – The N.C. State Wolfpack hit four home runs as it recorded an 8-0 non-conference victory in five innings over the USC Upstate softball team Wednesday afternoon at Dail Stadium.
Upstate falls to 28-8 on the season while N.C. State improves to 16-18 overall.
Courtney Mirabella (10-10) earned the win pitching all 5.0 innings and allowed one hit, two walks and registered one strikeout. Holly McKinnon (17-4) suffered the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits, one walk and two strikeouts in 1.1 inning of work. Lexi Shubert came on in relief of McKinnon to throw 2.2 innings and surrendered three runs on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Tyler Ross had a game-high three hits and five RBI for the Wolfpack, while five other players posted one hit. Maggie Hawkins drove in two RBI and Hanna Sommer one. Brittany Case contributed one hit to lead the Spartans offensively.
N.C. State struck for two runs in the bottom of the first on a pair of home runs by Ross and Sommer. Ross led off the inning with a solo homer against McKinnon and Sommer followed three batters later with another solo home run to extend the Wolfpack lead to 2-0.
Ross hit her second homer of the game with one out in the bottom of the second to push N.C. State's advantage to 5-0. Lana Van Dyken started the frame with a single to left field and advanced to second after Macauley Prickett reached on an Upstate error. Ross took a 2-1 pitch from McKinnon over the left field fence to put the Wolfpack ahead 5-0.
N.C. State made it an 8-0 contest in the bottom of the fourth scoring twice following a home run by Hawkins. After Shubert got Meredith Burroughs to fly out to start the inning, Sommer drew a four-pitch walk. Sommer scored on the two-run homer to left field by Hawkins as the Wolfpack went ahead by eight.
The Spartans step back into conference play this weekend as they travel to DeLand, Fla. for a three-game series with Stetson.
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