North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Softball Heads to ECU for Midweek Tilt
4/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The NC State softball team will make the short trip over to Greenville, N.C., on Wednesday for a midweek doubleheader against the East Carolina Pirates. First pitch of the twin bill is slated for 4 p.m. at ECU Softball Stadium. 
The Wolfpack enters the contest with a 22-15 overall record on the year, while the Pirates have struggled this season and are 11-28. NC State and East Carolina have met 17 times in the history of the programs, with the Pack owning an 11-6 advantage in the all-time series. 
Last season, State won both games of the doubleheader held at Dail Stadium, winning the first game, 7-2, and the second game, 5-4. The nightcap of the twin bill went 11 innings before a winner was decided, as Wolfpack junior Lana Van Dyken smacked a walkoff home run to end the contest in the bottom of the 11th. 
In the Wolfpack's last trip to Greenville, it split the doubleheader with the Pirates after dropping the first contest, 5-2, but rebounding in game two with a 5-3 win. 
Last Time Out
In its last outing of the season, the Pack earned a 9-4 win over No. 8 Florida State in the series finale. Senior Renada Davis hit a two-run blast in the contest, before freshman Meredith Burroughs delivered the big blow with a grand slam to give the Wolfpack a lead it never relinquished. 
Scouting East Carolina
The East Carolina Pirates own an 11-28 mark on the season and have compiled a 3-6 record against American Athletic Conference (AAC) opponents. In home games this season, the Pirates are 6-10.
ECU defeated Houston, 4-3, in its most recent outing of the season last Saturday to avoid the sweep in Texas. The Pirates suffered a 3-0 loss against UCF in their last home contest on March 22. 
Abby Wynne leads the team offensively with a .304 batting average and a team-high 35 hits. She also provides the power for the squad with a team-leading eight home runs. As a team, the Pirates have a batting average of .234 and average 3.33 runs per game.
In the pitching circle, Sarah Christian headlines the staff with a 5-9 record and a 2.74 earned run average (ERA) in 110 innings pitched. Ashley Cruise has also seen significant action with a 3-11 mark and a 4.41 ERA. Collectively, ECU's pitching staff has an ERA of 4.40 and allows 5.44 runs per game.
Davis On a Roll
Davis has been on a tear in recent weeks and has reached base safely in a program-best 27 consecutive games. She broke the record at Georgia Tech on March 29 by reaching for the 22nd straight game to eclipse her previous school record of 21 she set in 2013.
On Monday, she was named ACC Co-Player of the Week along with Notre Dame's Katey Haus. For the week, the senior had a batting average of .500, highlighted by 11 RBI, eight hits, six runs scored and three home runs.
Swing & a Miss, Strike Three!
Senior pitcher Emily Weiman has had her way with opposing batters this season and currently leads the ACC with 199 strikeouts. That total also ranks ninth among active pitchers in the NCAA.
Scoring First
When scoring the first run of a game this season, the Wolfpack has compiled an 18-4 record and in contrast, is just 3-9 when the opponent scores first. 
Gimme Five
NC State is 17-2 this season when scoring at least five runs in a game. The Pack is just 5-13 when scoring less than five runs. 
Jumping On Them Early
NC State has jumped on opponents early this season, scoring 35 runs in the first inning -- the most it has scored in any inning. The Wolfpack is outscoring opponents, 35-18, in the opening frame and is 15-2 when it scores in the first inning. 
Crucial Fourth Inning
When the Pack is leading the game at the end of the fourth inning, it has compiled a 19-2 record this season. State is 0-12 when trailing after the fourth and 3-1 when the score is tied. 
#STATEment
