RALEIGH, N.C. – In the final non-conference matchup for the Norfolk State softball team Gabby Vaughan and Tuli Iosefa each hit a home run in game one and two, respectively, but the North Carolina State Wolfpack picked up a doubleheader win over the Spartans at Dail Softball Stadium in Raleigh.
Game one started off with neither team able to find the baserunners needed to get on the board.
It wasn't until the fourth inning that a run was put on the board with the Wolfpack getting a two-run home run by Sam Sack to start the bottom half of the frame. NCST followed up with a pair of singles before a fly out to center field that allowed Randi Farricker to score from third. Michelle Tarpey would score the final Wolfpack run of the inning off a wild pitch to put the ACC team ahead by four after four complete.
Vaughan led off for the Spartans in the top of the fifth and took the third pitch she saw over the fence in left field to break up a no-hitter.
It proved to be the final run scored by either team in the game as the Wolfpack closed out the game in the top of the seventh. Maddie McPherson got the win for NCST, pitching all seven innings with 14 strikeouts.
The Wolfpack got things started early in game two with Kaylee Lambrecht reaching on a double before coming around to score on a wild pitch. After NCST got a pair of runners on second and third, NSU got out of the game with a strikeout by Cam Andersen in the circle.
NCST added to their lead in the second with back-to-back solo home runs by Taylor Johnson and Carson Shaner to put the Wolfpack up 3-0. A bases-loaded walk added one more for the home team before NCST added a fifth run in the third to take a 5-0 lead over the Spartans heading into the fourth.
In top of the fifth, Iosefa took the first pitch she saw over the right center field fence for her team and MEAC-leading eighth home run of the season to cut into the Wolfpack lead. However, NC State got the run back in the bottom of the fourth to put the lead back up to five at 6-1.
A single run by NCST in the fifth put the lead at 7-1. The Wolfpack had runners on the corners with no outs in the sixth, but Brierra Tyler got out of the jam without any runs scoring. NC State retired the side in the top of the seventh to get the doubleheader win in both teams' respective final non-conference matchup of the season.
The Spartans (30-19) hit the road this weekend for their final regular season contests with a MEAC series at Maryland Eastern Shore. First game gets underway on Saturday, April 30 at 1 p.m.
