Hubbard’s Complete Game Lifts No. 23 Softball to 7-5 Win

Sunday, February 14

Jacksonville, Fla. (Pruitt Softball Complex)

12:30 P.M.

NC State

3-2

Coastal Carolina

0-4

NC State

Coastal Carolina

Photo by: Greg Mintel

Hubbard’s Complete Game Lifts No. 23 Softball to 7-5 Win

2/14/2016 5:06:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Sophomore Harli Hubbard throws a complete game in her first collegiate start

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore pitcher Harli Hubbard earned her first collegiate start and threw a complete game to help the 23^rd-ranked NC State softball team earn a 7-5 win Sunday afternoon against Coastal Carolina.

The Wolfpack moves to 3-2 on the season, while the Chanticleers fall to 0-4.

Rychcik's Review
Opening statement…
"It was nice to rebound today and get the win," said head coach Shawn Rychcik. "We got some contributions from our bench, Jessica [Moore] had a big hit and we started Molly Martin at second base today and she did a real nice job.

"Harli [Hubbard] did a good job in the circle, keeping us in the game and I'm pleased that we were able to score enough runs to get the win."

On the first weekend…
"It was a tough weekend. We had two games that we should have won, it would be nice to be 5-0 instead we're 3-2. We've got a lot of work to do. We've got some injuries in the pitching staff and some in the field, so our first priority is to get healthy.

"We're going to have a couple good days of practice and get ready for Nebraska and Wisconsin this weekend."

Quick Hits
- Coastal Carolina plated the game's first run in the bottom of the second following a walk and a pair of infield singles to take a 1-0 lead.
- Junior Tyler Ross knotted the score at one in the top of the fourth with an absolute blast to deep right field. It was the junior's third home run of the year and 21^st of her career.
- NC State tacked on three runs in its next at-bat thanks to a three-run homer by catcher Molly Hutchison.
- Ross was intentionally walked prior to Hutchison and the San Diego, Calif., native took it personally and cranked her first home run of the year to put the Wolfpack ahead, 4-1.
- The Chanticleers responded in the bottom of the frame after a Kailey Mellen single scored a pair of runs to cut the Wolfpack lead to 4-3.
- A pinch-hit single by freshman Jessica Moore in the first at-bat of her Wolfpack career helped NC State extend the lead to 6-3, as she collected two RBI.
- Coastal trimmed the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning, but NCSU countered with a run in the top of the seventh to stretch the advantage to 7-4.
- The Chanticleers threatened in its final at-bat, but a pop up to Van Dyken at third base helped NC State secure the 7-5 victory.

In the Pitcher's Circle
- Hubbard made her first career start in the contest and delivered a valuable performance in a complete game effort, the first of her young career.
- She earned the win of her career and struck out a batter in seven innings of work.

Inside the Box Score
- Ross turned in a 2-for-3 performance to headline the Wolfpack at the plate, including a home run and three runs scored.
- Meredith Burroughs, Hutchison, Moore, Brittany Nimmo, Hanna Sommer and Van Dyken each had one hit.

Quoting the Players
Harli Hubbard, So., Pitcher
On getting her first career win…
"It's an exciting feeling to get the win and also throw a complete game. My team scored a lot of runs for me, so it was nice to do enough to get the win."

On how she felt when she was told she would start…
"I felt very relaxed, which is a big difference from last year because I'm more confident this season."

Jessica Moore, Fr., Infielder
On getting a hit in her first collegiate at-bat…
"It felt great to get a hit in my first collegiate at-bat and drive in a pair of runs. I knew coach put me in for that reason and I was so excited that I was able to help my team."

Tweets of the Game

WE HAVE LIFTOFF! ?? @TRossDaBoss08 puts one into orbit, as she crushes a HR to deep right field #STATEment ?????? pic.twitter.com/OYYvgeu598
— PackSoftball (@PackSoftball) February 14, 2016

MOORE DELIVERS!! In her first at-bat of her Wolfpack career, she rips a 2-RBI single up the middle to give the Pack a 6-3 lead #STATEment ??
— PackSoftball (@PackSoftball) February 14, 2016

.@HarliHubbard throws her first complete game and earns her first career win against the Chanticleers #STATEment ??? pic.twitter.com/mOT2yE0uGb
— PackSoftball (@PackSoftball) February 14, 2016

On Deck
NC State will return to action Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Nebraska in the inaugural ACC/B1G Challenge held at Dail Stadium.

#STATEment