Wolfpack Softball Meets Tar Heels in First-Ever Nonconference Tilt

Wednesday, March 16

Chapel Hill, N.C. (Anderson Stadium)

6 P.M.

NC State

North Carolina

Photo by: Greg Mintel

Wolfpack Softball Meets Tar Heels in First-Ever Nonconference Tilt

3/15/2016 11:20:00 AM | Softball

First pitch slated for Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Chapel Hill

RALEIGH, N.C. – For the first time in the history of the programs, NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill will meet in a nonconference softball matchup. The Wolfpack will make the trip over to Chapel Hill Wednesday afternoon for a 6 p.m. first pitch.

Due to conference expansion, NC State was not scheduled to play UNC during a conference series this season so the teams will meet in a nonconference tilt at Anderson Softball Stadium.

This year marks the first season the teams will not play a conference series since the Wolfpack began its fastpitch program in 2004.

The Wolfpack enters the contest with a 12-11 overall record, while the Tar Heels have an identical record.

Last Time Out
In its last outing of the season, NC State earned its third run-rule victory of the season against Delaware State on Sunday, 8-0.

Cheyenne BALLzER
NC State freshman Cheyenne Balzer hit the first home run of her Wolfpack career in Sunday's game against Delaware State. Her three-run blast ignited the offense for the Pack, as the homer gave NC State a 3-0 lead at the time.

Homering Pack
In 23 games this season, NC State has hit at least one home run in 19 of those contests. The Wolfpack has homered in each of its last six games.

NC State hit a season high four home runs in a 7-5 win against No. 25 California in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Ross The Boss
Junior Tyler Ross currently leads the ACC and is fifth in the NCAA with 10 home runs this season. As a result, she also leads the conference and is seventh in the nation with 0.43 home runs per game.

In addition, sophomore Meredith Burroughs is tied for third in the conference with seven home runs through the first 23 games. She had nine homers in 2015.

Nine and Counting
NC State's Maggie Hawkins and Molly Hutchison each have a nine-game hitting streak entering Wednesday's contest, the longest of the season by a Wolfpack player.

Sommer's On First
Redshirt junior Hanna Sommer has reached base safely in the past 13 games. She has been on base at least once every game since Feb. 25 against No. 1 Florida.

K for Courtney
Courtney Mirabella, junior pitcher from Bradenton, Fla., had struck out 101 batters this season, the most in the ACC and 15^th in the NCAA. She has also fanned 33 batters looking, also the highest clip in the conference.

Scouting UNC-Chapel Hill
- The North Carolina Tar Heels currently own a 12-11 record, but will play at Longwood Tuesday before its matchup with NC State Wednesday.
- UNC earned a 2-1 win in its last outing to win its first ACC series against Syracuse.
- NC State narrowly trails North Carolina in the all-time series, 21-20.
- The Tar Heels won two of three games against the Wolfpack last season in Raleigh to take the advantage in the series.
- UNC has a team batting average of .288, while opponents have been limited to a .288 clip.
- Senior Kristen Brown leads the Tar Heels offensively with a .373 batting average and a team-high nine home runs, second only to NC State's Ross in the ACC.
- In the circle, the Tar Heels have a team ERA of 3.52 led by senior Kendra Lynch with a 10-8 to go along with a 3.21 ERA.

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