North Carolina State University Athletics
Softball Heads to Winthrop for One Game on Thursday
3/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State softball will make the trek to Rock Hill, S.C. for a single game at Winthrop on Thursday, March 12. The contest will mark the Pack’s last game before beginning its ACC slate at Virginia Tech this upcoming weekend. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m., with live stats available via GoPack.com.
State is riding a three-game winning streak, having won eight of its last nine affairs including a doubleheader sweep of Michigan State at home this past Tuesday. Bridget Desbois clocked a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to down the Spartans, 4-3, in the first game of the evening, while Mendy McKenzie allowed just three hits as the Pack notched a 3-0 shutout in the nightcap.
Hannah Ojeda continues to lead the team at the plate, posting a .341 batting clip with seven runs scored and three RBIs in a solid start to her career in the red and white. Alyssa Ishibashi has been on a tear in her own right recently, batting .326 total with five runs scored and four RBIs. Over the last seven games Ishibashi has hit .429 with nine hits, tops on the roster.
The Wolfpack pitching staff continues to shed its ERA, dropping it to a season-best 1.65. Lindsay Campana (5-3, 1 save) posts a 0.95 ERA on her own with six complete games under her belt and 59 strikeouts. McKenzie (3-3, 1 save) carries a 2.22 ERA with 42 K’s. Morgan Peeler (1-1, 3.82 ERA) and Stephanie Call (1-0, 2.00 ERA) have also shown tremendous promise when handed the ball in the circle.
Scouting Winthrop
Winthrop carries a 6-9 record and will host Monmouth for one game on Wednesday before the Pack comes to town. This past weekend the Eagles went 1-4 at the Buzz Classic, dropping its final four contests. Lisa Kingsmore has been sensational for Winthrop thus far, batting .458 with 22 hits, five doubles, two home runs, a triple, six RBIs and 12 runs scored. She was named a Lowe’s Senior Class Award finalist this past Tuesday.
Three Eagles pitchers have combined for a 3.77 ERA, with Megan Evans (4-3, 3.22 ERA) leading the way on 43 strikeouts in 50.1 innings of work. Taylor Wright (1-3, 4.88 ERA) has pitched 27.2 innings, while Cari Wooldridge (1-3, 3.60 ERA) has tossed 20.
The All-Time Series
NC State is 4-0 all-time against Winthrop, dating back to a 4-2 win in 2004. In 2007 the Pack topped the Eagles 3-2, before sweeping a doubleheader at home (2-0, 8-0) last season. McKenzie tossed a perfect game in the second part of last season’s double-dip.
