Softball Opens ACC Play Against Notre Dame

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State softball team is set to open ACC play this weekend as it plays host to Notre Dame for a three-game series, March 7-8. The Pack will play a doubleheader against the Irish on Saturday before concluding the series Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m.

NC State (14-6) has won eight of its last 10 games, including an extra-inning victory against Indiana. The Pack currently leads the ACC in home runs per game and slugging percentage, while ranking second in on-base percentage, stolen bases and batting average.

SCOUTING NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame comes into the weekend receiving votes in both major polls, following a 2-1 open to their ACC schedule against Duke. They won the first two games of the series, 6-2 and 1-0, before dropping a 6-2 game in the series finale.

Alexis Holloway and Payton Tidd have been a solid 1-2 punch in the circle for the Irish, with Holloway leading the ACC with a 0.61 ERA. Offensively, Abby Sweet and Katie Marino lead the team with a .393 and .352 batting average, respectively. Marino has a team-high five home runs and ranks second with 14 RBIs.

THE SERIES
Notre Dame leads the all-time series by a narrow 9-7 margin, however, the series at Dail Softball Stadium is even at 4-4. The last meeting between the two teams was last year where Notre Dame took the series, 2-1, and won the final game of the weekend 12-3 in five innings.

There have been six all-time series between the two program since Notre Dame joined the conference in 2014 with the Irish winning five of them. NC State's last series win against Notre Dame was in 2015.

OFFENSIVE POWERHOUSE
NC State is averaging 5.85 runs per game, a number that increases to 7.14 in wins. NC State ranks in the top-30 nationally in multiple categories – including batting average, home runs and slugging percentage. The Pack is the only team in the nation to rank top-15 in both home runs and stolen bases, led by home run leader Brigette Nordberg.

Nordberg has six home runs through the first 14 games of the season, while NC State has a total of 10 athletes with at least one.

STEADY IN THE CIRCLE
NC State's trio of pitchers – Sydney Nester, Devin Wallace and Sam Gress – have held things down in the circle. Nester ranks second in the ACC with eight wins this season and 76 strikeouts, her strikeouts are also 31^st in the nation. Wallace has a total of five wins, while Gress made a statement in her first collegiate start last weekend.

Last weekend, Gress threw a five-inning no-hitter against North Carolina A&T, becoming the second NC State freshman all-time to do so in their first collegiate start and the first since 2005.

WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Saturday, March 7
- Free hand banners for first 100 fans
- Camper Reunion Day

Sunday, March 8
- Pastries with the Pack – first 100 fans will receive their choice of a breakfast food
- Friends & Family Package
- First 100 fans will receive a pair of Wolf Ears
- Softball BINGO
- Post-game autographs

UP NEXT
NC State will end its lengthy home stand with a double header, Tuesday, March 10 against Norfolk State before resuming ACC play with a three-game series against #19/21 Virginia Tech, March 13-15.

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Players Mentioned

Sam Gress

Sydney Nester

Brigette Nordberg

Devin Wallace