NC State Softball Hosts Virginia Tech in ACC Opener

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State softball team opens Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play this weekend when the Virginia Tech Hokies visit Dail Stadium. Saturday's doubleheader is set for noon, while Sunday's contest will also begin at noon.

The Wolfpack enters its conference opener with a 7-8 mark on the year, while the Hokies are 5-10 overall.

Last Time Out
In its last action, NC State earned a 6-5 victory against Charlotte at Dail Stadium. Junior Molly Hutchison drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth with a double to right field, scoring Tyler Ross from second base.

Wolfpack in ACC Openers
NC State is 7-5 all-time in conference openers. NC State has been fortunate enough to open conference play at home the previous three seasons.

Now in his fourth season as head coach, Shawn Rychcik is 2-1 in league openers.

2004 – W, at North Carolina, 5-2
2005 – L, No. 20 Florida State, 5-2
2006 – W, Boston College, 6-5
2007 – W, No. 19 Florida State, 6-3
2008 – W, Boston College, 8-0
2009 – W, Virginia, 3-2
2010 – L, Virginia Tech, 2-0
2011 – L, Florida State, 3-2
2012 – L, at No. 22 Florida State, 7-1
2013 – L, Florida State, 4-0
2014 – W, Virginia, 3-0
2015 – W, No. 23 Notre Dame, 4-2

Last season, NC State opened ACC play with a 4-2 win against No. 23 Notre Dame and went on to sweep the series against the Fighting Irish, the first sweep for the program versus a top-25 opponent.

One-Two Power Punch
Tyler Ross and Meredith Burroughs rank first and second in the ACC this season with eight and seven home runs, respectively. Ross' clip is second in the NCAA, while Burroughs' total is fifth in the nation.

Hubbard, The Closer
Sophomore pitcher Harli Hubbard is tied for the conference lead and tied for seventh in the NCAA with two saves this season. She shut the door for NC State against No. 25 California and sealed her second save versus Charlotte Wednesday.

Swing & a Miss, Strike Three
Courtney Mirabella, junior pitcher from Bradenton, Fla., leads the ACC and is tied for 10^th in the NCAA with 69 strikeouts this season. She averages 7.9 strikeouts per seven innings pitched.

About the Virginia Tech Series
- NC State and Virginia Tech have met 32 times in the history of the programs with the Wolfpack owning an 18-14 advantage in the all-time series.
- Last season, the teams met in Blacksburg with NC State sweeping the series.
- The Pack won game one, 4-0, game two, 2-0, and earned a 13-4 run-rule victory in the series finale.
- NC State has won the last four contests with the Hokies.

Scouting Virginia Tech
- Virginia Tech has had a tough start to its season, as the Hokies are just 5-10 through the first 15 games of 2016.
- The Hokies earned a 2-1 win against Radford at home in their most recent action on Wednesday.
- Tech has a team batting average of .222, while opponents have compiled a .282 clip at the plate.
- Chelsea Whitcomb leads the team in batting with a .316 clip at the dish and is tied for the team lead with 12 hits.
- In the circle, Virginia Tech pitchers have recorded a team earned run average (ERA) of 6.92.
- Maggie Tyler paces the staff with a 5.10 ERA and a 3-5 record.

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NC State Softball Hosts Virginia Tech in ACC Opener

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Players Mentioned

Meredith Burroughs

Harli Hubbard

Molly Hutchison

Courtney Mirabella

Tyler Ross