LOUISVILLE, Ky. (theACC.com) – NC State’s Estelle Czech pitched a complete game with no earned runs and Sam Russ went 2-for-4 at the plate to lift No. 7 seed NC State to a 4-2 win over No. 10 North Carolina in the first round of the 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship.
 
North Carolina (12-26) got on the board first after left fielder Kiannah Pierce’s sacrifice fly drove in center fielder Kristina Burkhardt in the top of the first inning.
 
The Tar Heels would add to their lead in the third when Skyler Brooks got on base with a single up the middle and scored after an error.
 
NC State (26-24) scored its first run on a Tatyana Forbes single down the left field line, driving in Sam Russ who got on base with a bunt. North Carolina held a 2-1 lead at the end of the third frame.
 
The Wolfpack scored three runs to take the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. UNC walked Russ and shortstop Randi Farricker with the bases loaded, scoring Gracie Roberts and Brigette Nordberg. NC State scored its final run after Forbes singled up the middle, driving Angie Rizzi home.
 
Czech earned her fourth win of the season, pitching seven innings with five strikeouts and two unearned runs. Brittany Pickett earned the loss, giving up three runs on five hits in 3.1 innings of work, dropping to 11-8 on the season.
  
NC State advances to face No. 2 Florida State in tomorrow’s 5 p.m. quarterfinal.
 
ACC fans will be able to watch all nine games of the ACC Championship. The first three rounds will be broadcast on ACC Network, and ESPN will carry the championship game.