Ervin Twins Ready for One Last Go 'Round

By Brandon Yopp

Assistant Media Relations Director

Raleigh, N.C. - They say that the bond between sisters is unbreakable. For Miranda and Shaina Ervin, that old adage doesn't even scratch the surface of their relationship. Aside from creating one of the most successful pitcher/catcher batteries in ACC softball, the identical twins share a bond that few can comprehend.

Natives of Huntersville, N.C., the Ervin sisters, both seniors this year, have been staples on head coach Lisa Navas' lineup card since NC State cut the ribbon on its softball program in 2004. Miranda, the team's vocal signal caller, has called pitches in more than 170 games. Shaina, the more laid-back and quiet of the two, has tossed 528 1/3 innings.

Miranda has been one of the Pack's most prolific hitters in its short history. Entering year four, she leads the program in career batting average (.304), ranks second in slugging percentage (.496), on-base percentage (.380), home runs (24) and RBIs (207), and stands at third in hits (146). Behind the plate, she has helped to guide her sister and a cast of other pitchers while gunning down 45 would-be base stealers.

From the circle, Shaina has amassed 42 wins and five saves. After collecting second-team NFCA all-region honors in 2005, she put together a phenomenal effort in 2006, posting a 20-3 record and going undefeated in league play. A first-team All-ACC honoree, Shaina saved her best innings for the tail-end of the season, collecting three wins at the ACC Championships and picking up tournament MVP honors while guiding the Pack to its first-ever league crown in a win over Florida State. She ended the year by grabbing a victory over Princeton in the NCAA Tournament.

But it hasn't always been easy.

The Ervin sisters grew up as athletes, partially by choice, partially due to genetics. Their mother, Cathy Prince, played softball and basketball, while father Johnny Ervin was a pitcher.

"Ever since we were able to walk we started going out in the backyard and tossing a ball," Shaina said. "It stuck with us. Our parents did everything they could to help us get further in softball because it was our passion."

At Charlotte Hopewell, both twins enjoyed successful prep careers. Shaina was tabbed 2003 N.C. Gatorade Softball Player of the Year, as both sisters helped lead their school to consecutive 4-A state titles, splitting MVP honors at the state tournament during their senior season.

In the midst of the accolades and high school hoopla, the thought of playing softball in college began to become a reality. Letters for both girls started coming in the mail. The phone steadily rang.

As the recruiting process carried on, some schools catered to Shaina's pitching prowess, while others courted Miranda's catching abilities. In time, it became apparent that the talented duo would ultimately have to make the toughest decision of their lives. Split up and go separate ways, or stay together.

Enter Navas. A former assistant at North Carolina, she had watched the girls play at camps in Chapel Hill and was convinced that they could both play integral roles in her new program at NC State.

“They had something that not every kid has,” Navas said. "They knew how to win. I saw the power in Miranda, in terms of hitting, and Shaina just knew how to get it done as a pitcher.”

"Navas preached hard work,'" Miranda said. "She told us that if we worked hard that we could win an ACC championship by our junior year and we did that. She believed that by doing the little things that we would win."

Equally important, she wanted both sisters.

"We always wanted to be a package deal," Shaina said. "The big focus was for us to stay together. That's how we ultimately made our decision to come here."

When they finally made it to Raleigh in the fall of 2003, they took solace in their accomplishment, but knew full well that they were just getting started.

"It was gratifying to know that the first part of our life was complete," Shaina said. "We had always dreamed of getting on a scholarship and going to a big-name school. When we arrived we just wanted to get better with every day and not take anything for granted."

From the beginning, it sounded a lot easier than it was. In the Pack's inaugural year the team went 32-27 and finished fifth in the league, not exactly bad for a team that didn't exist the previous season. Shaina posted back-to-back no-hitters against Binghamton and Campbell in late March and early April, but finished the year with a disappointing 10-13 record. Miranda played in all but one game on the season and finished the year with a .312 batting average.

Getting adjusted to the college lifestyle may have taken a toll on the twins, but in 2005 each posted banner seasons for the Pack. Shaina lowered her ERA from 2.16 to 1.68 and won 12 games, while Miranda upped her batting average to .320, driving in 28 runs. With a 41-25 record, good for fourth in the league, everyone seemed convinced that the team might find its way into the postseason. It didn't turn out that way, however, and the table was set for the following season.

And what a season 2006 was to remember, as NC State won both the ACC regular season and conference tournament titles, cruising on a 50-21 record and advancing to the NCAA Tournament in just its third year of existence. Facing elimination in the ACC Championships after falling to Florida State, Shaina collected wins over Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Florida State in the championship game.

"Everything just came together for me," Shaina said. "It just clicked and I felt like I was in a groove. More important than that, I had a tremendous amount of confidence in my teammates behind me and my coaches. We were so driven, and I was driven. I had a focus about me, and a confidence."

Although it took a total team effort for the Pack to pull off such a Herculean feat, both sisters played vital roles in the process.

“Shaina turned it around halfway through the season,” Navas said. “She just had a determination to get it done at the end of the year and you could see that with every pitch.

"Miranda was up and down with her hitting at times last year, but you can count on her in big games. She is a powerful hitter and she has put down some timely hits for us. She’s very clutch is tight situations.”

Spoken like the truest of teammates, both are quick to give credit to the other.

"When Miranda steps up to the plate, I have no doubts about her ability," Shaina said. "In tough situations I would vote for her to get the at-bat. As a pitcher, having that confidence in your batters, that gives me the ability to breath a little bit more."

"Shaina's pitching performance last year at the ACC Championships was what our team needed to get us over the hump," Miranda said. "It was the type of performance that we've been waiting on since we got here."

As important as Miranda and Shaina are to each other on the diamond, their relationship is magnified tenfold off of the field. The twins share an apartment to themselves, and only this summer did they each get separate vehicles.

"In 21 years, we've never spent more than a week apart," Miranda said. "We've grown up together. I couldn't see us going to different schools or playing on different teams. I play the game as much for her as I do for myself. That's part of what drives me. My love of the game comes from her love of the game also."

It's a logical thought that Shaina shares, adding that neither would be the player that they are today without the other.

"We're only as good as the other because of how much we've helped one another growing up," Shaina said. "We have such an upper hand on other players because we are together all of the time. I think it shows on the field."

With their final season at NC State quickly approaching, both sisters admit that they have yet to come to terms with the fact that their careers are coming to a close. They struggle more with the possibility that this may be their last opportunity to compete together than they do with the pressure of living up to last season's success.

"It's our last go 'round," Miranda said. "We don't know if we'll ever play together again. It's a matter of going out there and playing every game like it's our last, because it's coming. I just want to take it all in and have fun with it. Leave everything on the field."

When asked to describe one another, Miranda called Shaina a leader, citing her performance on the field. Shaina talked at length about Miranda's character and personality, offering memories of her sister's timely hits and perseverance in tough situations.

At NC State, they'll both be remembered as winners, something they accomplished together.

North Carolina State University Athletics

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