North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Hosts Phoenix in Doubleheader at Walnut Creek
4/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 5, 2005
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Wolfpack softball (31-17) will host the Elon Phoenix (19-17) this Wednesday, Apr. 6 at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, N.C. for a non-conference doubleheader. Elon narrowly defeated NC State 2-0 in the Triangle Classic, and the Wolfpack also fell in a doubleheader at Elon in 2004 in the three meetings between the teams. The Wolfpack had its eighth game cancelled due to weather when the three-game ACC series at the University of Maryland was washed out this past weekend. NC State will head to Atlanta, Ga. this weekend to face the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech in a three-game set.
Navas Reaches 50, 400 In Sight
Fifty wins, that is. With the 3-0 win over Appalachian St. on Sunday, Feb. 27 at the Seahawk Classic, NC State head coach Lisa Navas won her 50th game at NC State. Navas is closing in on 400 career wins, as she currently sits on 398 victories in 11 years, and 63 wins in two seasons at NC State. Her coaching career includes nine years at Barry Univ. in Miami, Fla.
ACC Rankings Highlight Pack Stars
Seven different Wolfpack players are listed among the top-10 statistical categories in the ACC this week, with Abbie Sims leading the way by being included in 11 categories, including all nine pitching categories. Shaina Ervin is listed in eight of the nine pitching categories, and nine overall after ranking fourth in the ACC in drawing walks at the plate. Jen Chamberlin and Heather Gelbard lead the hitters, with Chamberlin holding six different spots on the top-10 lists, and Gelbard three. Lee Hasper, Miranda Ervin and Shanna Smith are each ranked in one offensive category.
Sims' "Perfect"-ion Leads To ACC Player Of The Week
Abbie Sims was perfect from the circle against Central Connecticut State on Mar. 19 -- literally. Sims tossed the first perfect game of her career and the first in school history in an 8-0 win over CCSU at the 2005 Wolfpack Challenge. She struck out 16 of 18 batters faced in six innings, including the final 13 to end the ball game. For the weekend, Sims recorded two wins and notched her second save of the season to earn ACC Player of the Week honors for the second time this season and third time in her career.
Chamberlin Swings Away
Jen Chamberlin hit her eighth home run, and 20th of her career, to move into 12th all-time in home runs in the ACC. She hit 12 as a freshman a year ago, and currently leads the Pack with the eight long balls, second in the conference.
Shutting The Door
In its inaugural season of 2004, NC State pitchers combined for 10 shutouts in 59 games. Abbie Sims had seven of those, with Shaina Ervin notching the other three. Through 48 games in 2005, the Wolfpack staff has already amassed 13 shutouts. Sims has seven, Ervin three, and freshmen Brooke Isley and Megan Dalthorp each have one. Sims and Isley have combined for one shut out.
Five Times The Runs
Three NC State players have enjoyed the number five this season, as Abbie Sims, Heather Gelbard and Jennifer Patterson have each had five RBIs in a game, a school record. Gelbard was the first to accomplish the feat, going 5-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBIs against Mississippi Valley State on Feb. 6. Patterson followed, hitting a school record three doubles and collecting her five RBIs in a 10-0 win over Rutgers on Feb. 20. Not to be out done, Sims hit her own grand slam, the second in school history, and drove in five runs in an 11-2 win over Delaware St. on Feb. 26.
1-2-3-HR: Wolfpack Pounding Out The Hits
It's all about the stats. NC State has 302 hits, 52 doubles, six triples and 29 home runs in 48 games this season. As a comparison, in 59 games a year ago the Wolfpack offense managed 385 hits, 53 doubles, one triple and 36 home runs. The 36 home runs ranked NC State 48th in the NCAA with 0.61 long balls a game.
Wolfpack Picked Fifth in the ACC in 2005
Head coach Lisa Navas' Wolfpack squad was picked to finish fifth in the ACC by a vote of the seven conference coaches. NC State garnered 18 league votes, trailing unanimous No. 1 Florida State (49), Georgia Tech (40), North Carolina (35) and Virginia (23). Maryland was sixth with 16 votes, while league newcomer Virginia Tech was seventh. NC State finished fifth in the ACC in 2004, posting a 3-7 league mark and a 32-27 record overall.
