North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Softball Readies for ACC Tournament
5/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 10, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. - After playing well to end the regular season, NC State softball will open the 2011 ACC Championship Friday, May 13 against Maryland at noon. The sixth-seeded Wolfpack, which enters the tournament at 26-22 and 7-12 in league play, will take on the third-seeded Maryland Terrapins (38-16, 12-7 ACC) at Mewborn Field in Atlanta, Ga.
The Pack split its two games against Maryland in a rain-shortened series with the Terps on April 17, 2011 in College Park, Md.
With a win on Friday, NC State will advance to the quarterfinal round on Saturday, May 14 to take on the winner of the North Carolina and Boston College matchup at 1 p.m.
Bridget Desbois owns the Pack's top batting average this season, a .326 mark. The McLean, Va. native's seven doubles are tops for NC State this season, as are her 47 hits. Bethaney Wells' power numbers pace the squad in 2011--she has smashed nine home runs and boasts a .539 slugging percentage. In addition, her 30 RBI leads the Wolfpack.
Freshman pitcher Kayla Cox sports NC State's top ERA at 2.81. She also leads the Pack in wins (14), appearances (33), games started (26), complete games (19), shutouts (4), innings pitched (177.0) and strikeouts (228). Her 228 strikeouts this season is second in Pack freshman history, behind only All-America Abbie Sims.
The Wolfpack last claimed the ACC Tournament title in 2006, the third year of the program's existence. On Sunday, May 18 the squad will learn its post-season fate during the 2011 NCAA softball selection show on ESPNU at 10 p.m.
