North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Hosts App. State in Softball Doubleheader Monday
3/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 7, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. -
NC State and ASU Game Notes in PDF
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Appalachian State (DH) (Monday, March 8 - 1 p.m. - Field 1 at Walnut Creek SB Complex)
NC State will host its second home doubleheader in a row, when the Appalachian State Mountaineers come into Raleigh on Monday at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. The Mountaineers are 4-7 on the season, with a 2-2 mark on the road. ASU will play a doubleheader on Sunday, March 7 before meeting the Wolfpack.
Appalachian Notes
The Mountaineers are lead on offense by Lindsay Glover and Christa Hicks, with both players either leading or tied for the team lead in average, hits, doubles, RBIs, total bases, and slugging percentage. As a team, ASU is hitting .163 and slugging .208, with 11 doubles and one triple on the year. Marie Watson is the ace of the staff, as she has a 1.47 ERA in seven appearances, winning one game and striking out eight batters. She is allowing opponents to bat .197 in 18.1 innings of work. Jennifer Hurley is 2-3 in five appearances, striking out a team high 20 batters in 16.1 innings of work.
Last At-Bat
The Wolfpack split a doubleheader with Charleston Southern on Saturday, March 6 in the home opener for NC State at its current home field. The Wolfpack lost another close game in game one, falling 11-8, despite coming back from three times to pull within at least two runs, including a five run rally to pull to 9-8 in the fifth and sixth inning. NC State hit three homeruns in the game, and fourth in the last two contests. Heather Gelbard led off the game with a homerun on the first pitch she saw, while Miranda Ervin and Carla Shepherd each hit two-run shots. In the second game, Abbie Sims pitched a gem from the circle for the Wolfpack, striking out 12 batters while walking none in a three-hitter. NC State won the contest 3-1, as Sims won her third game of the season.
On Deck
NC State is in the midst of a six-game homestand before heading back on the road for the Winthrop Tournament, March 12-14. After Appalachian State, James Madison will come to Raleigh for a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 10 at 2:00 pm.
Offensive Explosion
The Wolfpack bats came alive in the doubleheader against Charleston Southern, scoring 14 runs in the two games, combining for 19 hits and pounding out seven extra base hits including three homeruns. In the first game, NC State tied a season with eight runs while setting season highs for hits (12) and extra base hits (5).
Gelbard Getting It Done
Heather Gelbard is getting it done at the plate, leading the Wolfpack in several offensive categories. Gelbard leads the team in hits (15), doubles (6), total bases (24), and slugging percentage (.511). She shares the team lead in homeruns with one, and is second in runs scored with five. Her .319 batting average is also second on the team.The starter at third base through the first 11 games, Gelbard moved to second for the Charleston Southern doubleheader and has started all 13 games.
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 just came off of a strong performance against Charleston Southern, and she now has 46 strikeouts in 40.2 innings pitched, lowering her team-leading ERA to 1.89. Opponents are hitting only .190 against Sims, and she is 3-4 on the season. Ervin has also been solid from the circle this year, as the freshman pitcher has allowed only 15 earned runs in 40 innings of work, while striking out a team high 49 batters.
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.
Blount's Batting Leads Team
Caroline Blount is hitting .370 on the year, getting 10 hits, second on the team, and driving in five runs, third on the team.Her 11 total bases is also third on the team, and she has started 10 games, committing only one error in the field.
Pitch Out...
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 is No. 24 in the latest USA/Today NFCA Poll. NC State is third in team ERA and in opponents batting average and has the fourth highest strikeouts per seven innings ratio 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 11 walks led the team and that is one of the top marks in the ACC in that category. Her on base percentage of .419 is second on the team, and is the team leader in runs with six. 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 second home series on Monday, March 8, against Appalachian State at 1 p.m.
