North Carolina State University Athletics
Softball Rolls Down to Atlanta For Buzz Classic
3/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 18, 2004
RALEIGH, NC - NC State softball, 11-14, travels to Atlanta, Ga. for the annual Buzz Classic hosted by Georgia Tech, Friday, March 19 through Sunday, March 21. The Wolfpack will face Bowling Green, 6-10, at 1 p.m. and Eastern Illinois, 6-8, at 6 p.m., on Friday. On Saturday NC State starts the day with a 9 a.m. game versus Georgia State, 6-6, and will face the 22-9 Tulsa Hurricane at 5 p.m. Entering the weekend, NC State is led by freshmen Jennifer Chamberlin and Abbie Sims. Chamberlin's fifth home run of the season helped the Pack to an 8-0 victory against Charlotte on Wednesday. Sims pitched a two-hit shutout against the 40ers. She is 9-4 on the year.
Gina Rango, who has a team-high 15 hits and six RBI, will lead Bowling Green offensively. In thc circle will be Liz Vrabel and Jody Johnson. The two combine for a 6-8 record. Vrabel owns a 1.45 ERA with 49 strikeouts. Johnson is 3-2 with a 2.65 ERA after allowing 36 hits and 22 runs in 37 innings.
Eastern Illinois will ride the bats of Sandyn Short and Rachel Karos. Short has tallied 18 hits - which includes three home runs, 10 RBI and six runs in her 41 at bats. Karos leads the team with 12 runs and has 15 hits. Pitchers Brittany Whelan and Heather Hoeschen combine for a 5-4 record. Whelan owns the lowest ERA at 2.96 in 28 innings. She has given up 26 hits and 18 runs. Hoeschen has an ERA of 4.05. She has allowed 30 hits and 19 runs in her 27 innings.
For Georgia State, Candace Jones will bring the big bat as she leads the team with 11 hits, one home run and three runs in 28 at bats. Pitcher Andrea McNary owns the lowest ERA for the Panthers at 1.20. She has pitched 41 innings and allowed 45 hits, 12 runs and had 42 strikeouts.
Tulsa owns the best record of the four initial teams NC State will face prior to entering bracket play. Its 22 wins came after some big sticks from Holly Reynolds, who in her 63 at bats has tallied 23 hits and 15 runs. Heather Hiar leads the team with 35 hits, including 10 doubles and 20 hits in 104 at bats. Pitcher Maren Genow owns a 9-2 record in her 69 innings. She has let 17 runs score after giving up 53 hits. However she has struckout 68 batters and allowed just six walks.
NC State will enter bracket play on Sunday. Times and teams will be announced after play is concluded on Saturday.
