Wolfpack Splits Final Day at the Tiger Classic

Saturday, February 7

Baton Rouge, LA

11am

NC State

2-2

Illinois

0-3

Illinois

NC State

2/7/2026 7:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BATON ROUGE, La. – The NC State softball team defeated Illinois in commanding fashion before falling to Nevada on its final day at the Tiger Classic hosted by LSU.

NC State 9, Illinois 4
How it Went Down

Talley earned her second career start in the circle. The Illini posted a crooked number in the opening frame to take an early lead (2-0).
Freshman Carly Short smashed a double to right center and sophomore Kendall Simmers singled to left. Simmers would later steal second to allow Short to score on the throw. The Pack trailed by just one run at the end of the first.
NC State tied things up in the second after MaKayla Marbury led off with a single, advancing to second due to obstruction and Lily Livingston doubled to right to bring the senior home.
The two teams went scoreless through the fourth and the Pack added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth after a doubled from Talley and a sac fly from Marbury brought runners home. The Pack led, 4-2, at the conclusion of the fifth.
The Illini tied things up in the fifth after an RBI double from Ellie Haggard and RBI single from Gabrielle Debevec.
Talley exited the circle in the sixth with two outs. She finished the outing having thrown 5.2 innings with two strikeouts. Gore entered in relief and Ellington Whittaker headed behind the plate in place of Carmen Montes de Oca.
The Pack posted five runs off just as many hits on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Taryn Massey and Sarah Johnson both doubled, and Johnson would later score on an error by the Illini catcher. Short hit a sac fly to center to bring Townsend home and Simmers followed it up with a single.
With two on and one out, Hannah Church smashed her second homer of the season 209 feet to left field. The Pack led 9-4 heading into the seventh.
Illinois attempted to minimize the deficit, but the Wolfpack defense was on lock.
Gore earned the win to mark her first of the season.
Simmers led the Pack offensively going 3-for-4 at the plate and Church added two RBIs to lead in the category.
The win marks the second of the season, 57th under head coach Lindsay Leftwich and the 624th in program history.

Nevada 1, NC State 0
How it Went Down

Townsend began the game with a single up the middle for the Wolfpack.
Both teams went scoreless until Nevada scored off a double from Hannah Di Genova in the bottom of the third.
Senior Rylee Wyman was given the nod in the circle, striking out five batters through the first six innings.
Townsend picked up her second hit of the match up when she laid down a bunt in the top of the fifth.
The Nevada defense was not letting the Pack make it to third base once during the outing.
NC State finished the afternoon with four hits and one error.
Livingston and Johnson each added a hit to the box score.
The loss moves NC State to 2-3 on the season.

Up Next
The Wolfpack will head to Clearwater, Fla. To participate in the prestigious Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational hosted by ESPN Events. The Pack will open play on Friday, Feb. 13 at 9am against Georgia before facing Missouri at 12:30pm.

Pack Drops Heartbreaker to #16/13 LSU

Friday, February 06

Talley Dazzles in Debut Against Lamar; Pack Falls to #16/13 Tigers

Thursday, February 05

Wolfpack to Open Season at Tiger Classic Hosted by #16/13 LSU

Tuesday, February 03

Weik Selected as Recipient of Go Teach Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway

Wednesday, December 03

Next Event

Georgia

Feb 13 (Fri)

9am

History

0Days

0Hours

0Minutes

0Seconds

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Gore, Wynne (1-0)

L: Sabalaskey,Abby (0-1)

Illinois

Batting:

2B: Brennan,Skylar 1 ; Haggard,Ellie 1

RBI: Brennan,Skylar 1 ; Cushing,Ella 1 ; Haggard,Ellie 1 ; Debevec,Gabrielle 1

SH: Booth,Micaela 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Moore,Ava 1 ; Caryl,Adisyn 1 ; Cushing,Ella 1 ; Stang,Brooke 1

SB: Caryl,Adisyn 1

HBP: Mosley,Delaney 1

NC State

Batting:

2B: Short, Carly 1 ; Talley, Morgen 1 ; Livingston, Lily 1 ; Massey, Taryn 1

HR: Church, Hannah 1

RBI: Short, Carly 1 ; Church, Hannah 2 ; Talley, Morgen 1 ; Marbury, MaKayla 1 ; Livingston, Lily 1 ; Johnson, Sarah 1

SF: Short, Carly 1 ; Marbury, MaKayla 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Townsend, Maia 1 ; Short, Carly 1 ; Simmers, Kendall 1 ; Wilson, Gabi 1 ; Church, Hannah 1 ; Marbury, MaKayla 1 ; Massey, Taryn 1 ; Johnson, Sarah 1 ; Montes de Oca, Carmen 1