NC State Softball setting records, moving on in regional

Records fell as NC State softball opened regional play with a win for the third straight season, felling Fordham 12-5. The 12 runs doubled the program's previous high in regional play, and Tyler Ross, who went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, set the club record for RBI in a season with her 55^th.

Ross was among five players with a pair of hits; Renada Davis (who has hit in 13 straight), Meredith Burroughs, Maggie Hawkins, and Hannah Yeager also had a pair, and all four drove in two runs. Molly Hutchison had just one hit but drove in two. Davis and Hawkins blasted round-trippers.

Offense was certainly not an issue in the regional opener, but defense continued to plague the Pack as it did in the ACC tournament. State made four errors in the game, contributing to a surprisingly early exit for senior ace Emily Weiman, who allowed eight hits and five runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings. Courtney Mirabella was solid in relief, fanning three in 2.1 shutout innings.

Weiman's outing was good enough to give the righty her 29^th win of the season, but it will take a better effort from her and the defense behind her to pick up number 30 against host James Madison today at 2 p.m. in the winner's bracket. The Dukes (48-8) had a 36-game winning streak earlier in the year and handled Binghamton easily, 9-1, in the regional opener.