North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Duke
Softball Hosts Blue Devils for Midweek Matchup
2/25/2020 3:31:00 PM | Softball
RALEIGH – After recording the best start in program history, the NC State softball team faces a midweek test against Tobacco Road rival, Duke. The Wolfpack hosts the Blue Devils Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. at Dail Softball Stadium. The contest will be played as a non-conference game, not counting towards the ACC standings for either team. Duke was receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll as well as the USA Softball/ESPN.com top-25 poll.
NC State (11-4) was perfect at home last week with a 6-0 record against Elon, Indiana, Bucknell and Saint Joseph's. The Pack outscored its opponents 39-12 including a 7-0 shutout against Saint Joseph's. Every NC State player with an at bat recorded at least one hit over the week, led by Tatyana Forbes' 12.
Forbes currently leads the ACC and ranks 11th nationally with a .569 batting average, while leading the nation with 29 hits through 15 games. The senior has ACC leading marks in on-base percentage (.607) and triples (3) while ranking third in stolen bases (9). Additionally, Logan Morris leads the conference in RBIs per game, averaging 1.33, while Sam Russ is the conference leader in stolen bases per games.
SERIES HISTORY
The young all-time series against Duke is even at 2-2, with Duke owning the win in the lone game at Dail Softball Stadium in 2018. Last season, NC State traveled to Durham for a three-game ACC series where the Wolfpack came away with the win, going 2-1 against the Blue Devils.
SCOUTING DUKE
Duke (12-2) is coming off a huge weekend where they upset then-#4 Texas, who was previously unbeaten, in a 1-0 game. The win was the first ranked win in the program's young three year history. The Blue Devils two losses on the season came at the hands of UCF and Lipscomb. Prior to making the short trip to Raleigh, Duke will host NC Central Tuesday, Feb. 25.
The Blue Devils pitching staff has been solid, holding a combined 1.51 earned run average which ranks 13th nationally and second in the ACC. Wednesday's game will be a battle of hot offenses though as NC State ranks third in the ACC with a .310 batting average, compared to Duke's .314 which ranks second among conference teams.
UP NEXT
NC State continues its lengthy home stand, hosting the NC State Invitational this weekend, Feb. 28-March 1. The Wolfpack will play four games against Lehigh, North Carolina A&T and #24/25 James Madison. Tickets are available here.
