North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Hosts Charleston Southern in Doubleheader Saturday
3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 5, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. -
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The Wolfpack will host the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 6 at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex on Field 1. The first game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., and it will mark the first home game for NC State. NC State played in the Triangle Classic at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex, the current home of Wolfpack softball, but the event was hosted by North Carolina and considered a neutral site.
Charleston Southern Notes The Buccaneers are currently 7-13 after splitting a doubleheader with SC State on Thursday, March 4. They are lead on offense by Jen Foster, who leads the team in hits (15), runs (11), doubles (3), triples (1), homeruns (1), total bases (23), walks (10) and slugging percentage (.535). In the circle, Charleston Southern has used four pitchers to start games, with Amanda Noble posting a 3-5 record in a team high 10 appearances and eight starts. Her 3.44 ERA is third on the team, behind Alison McAteer's 2.76, and Noble has struckout 30 on the season while walking 21. Overall, the Buccaneers have struckout 65 as a team, while walking 51 in 117.2 innings.
Last At-Bat The Wolfpack dropped both games of a doubleheader to Elon in two, one-run games. Jen Chamberlin hit the program's first homerun, a two-run shot in the fourth inning to cut the Elon lead to 3-2, the final score of the second game. NC State dropped the first contest 4-3 in extra innings after rallying to tie the score in the seventh.
On Deck NC State will host two more doubleheaders, as the Wolfpack is in the midst of a six-game homestand before heading back on the road for the Winthrop Tournament, March 12-14. After Charleston Southern, Appalachian State (currently 3-7 with a doubleheader against Lenior-Rhyne on March 7) will come to Raleigh for a doubleheader on Mon., March 8. James Madison (currently 2-7, with the ECU Pirate Clash slated for this weekend) will follow suit, as they travel to play at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex on Wed., March 10.
First Pitch Classic Cancelled Due To Snow The Wolfpack was expecting to have at least four more games under its belt heading into the six game homestand, but record snow falls in Charlotte, N.C. cancelled the Wolfpack trip to the First Pitch Classic, hosted by the Charlotte 49ers. Over a foot of snow fell in the Charlotte area on Thursday, Feb. 26, and the fields were covered in snow and too saturated with water to get any games in.
Streaky Gelbard Freshman leadoff hitter Heather Gelbard has been solid at the plate all year, and had an eight-game hit streak snapped in the second game of the Elon doubleheader. She has at least a hit in nine of the 11 games this season. She has four multi-hit games this season and a team-high 13 hits overall. Gelbard also leads the ACC in doubles with six, and is averaging a league leading .55 doubles per game.Through NC State's first five games, Gelbard had five doubles.
Pitchers Pace Pack Freshmen pitchers Abbie Sims and Shaina Ervin have been key members of NC State through the first 11 games of the season. Sims has won two games, ninth in the ACC and has a 2.08 ERA (8th in the ACC), while Ervin has a 2.00 ERA, sixth in the conference. Sims has 34 strikeouts in 33.2 innings, and Ervin has notched 44 in 35 innings.
Wolfpack's ACC Rankings In Pitching Ervin is in the top-10 in five categories for pitching in the ACC, innings pitched (8th, 35.0), strikeouts (6th, 44.0), games started (t-8th, 5), opp. batting average (7th, .223), complete games (7th, 4). Sims is in seven categories in the ACC top-10 for pitching, innings pitched (10th, 33.2), strikeouts (7th, 34), appearances (9th, 6), games started (t-8th, 5), complete games (6th, 5), shutouts (t-5th, 1) and opp. batting average (6th, .203).
S. Ervin and Sims Top Freshman Pitchers Not only are NC State's top two pitchers ranked in a numerous top-10 categories in the conference overall, but Shaina Ervin and Abbie Sims are the top two freshman in the league as well. Ervin and Sims are the top two freshmen in the conference in every pitching category to this point in the season. The only other freshmen to rank in the top-10 in any ACC category is Coty Tolar of Virginia, who is tenth in complete games, and Lucas from Maryland is ninth in opp. batting average.
Pitch Out... The Wolfpack has started the inaugural season off with a strong team effort from the circle. NC State is third in the conference in pitching behind No. 11 Florida State and Georgia Tech, who No. 24 in the latest USA/Today NFCA Poll. State pitchers have avoided the longball, giving up a league-low two homeruns. NC State is third in team ERA and in opponents batting average and thefourth highest strikeouts per seven innings ration in the league.
Sims Doing Double Duty Freshman pitcher/centerfielder Abbie Sims is not only posting impressive numbers from the mound, but her patience at the plate has helped the team score runs all season as well. Her nine walks lead the team and is t-6th in the ACC in that category. Her on base percentage of .389 is third on the team, and is tied for the team lead in runs with four. Her defense and awareness in the outfield has made her presence known on this young NC State squad.
Stealing Bases NC State has successfully stolen four bases in five attempts on the season, putting the Wolfpack in a better position to manufacture runs. Moffatt Steele, Lee Hasper, Abbie Sims and Rene? LaCroix are all 1-1 on the year
Sister, Sister It's not double vision. It's twins. Freshmen Miranda and Shaina Ervin are twins. Miranda will wear No. 11, while Shaina wears No. 12. Miranda catches for Shaina. The two led Charlotte's Hopewell HS to two-straight 4-A state championships. The two shared the Championship MVP title and Shaina became the first player to be honored with the MVP award in both seasons. In her 48 innings pitched, she had 82 strikeouts and two no-hitters. Miranda went 12-21 with nine RBI during the tournament, which included a 5-6 at bat and seven RBI in the last two games.
Wolfpack Makes Six Prior to this season, the ACC had just five teams including Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. NC State's addition made it an even six. After the ACC expands, the conference will add Virgina Tech softball to the fray next season, and in 2005-06 Boston College will join the conference.
Where My Girls At? NC State will play all of its home games at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex for the 2004 season. The Wolfpack will host its first home game on Saturday, March 6, against Charleston Southern at 1 p.m. The games will start no later than 3 p.m.
