The NC State softball team will travel to Louisville this weekend to take on the Cardinals in a three-game series.
The Cardinals (22-9, 2-4 ACC) picked up votes in the most recent national polls, but actually trail the Wolfpack in the ACC standings and are just 2-4 in their last six games.
NC State was swept by the Cardinals in Raleigh last year, losing all three games of its home series by a combined margin of 18-8.
Louisville infielder Caitlyn Ferguson is one of the best hitters in the ACC and leads a potent Cardinals offense that has seven players hitting over .300. Ferguson is hitting .381 on the year and has smacked two home runs and eight doubles, and has driven in 37 runs.
The Wolfpack will likely see the Cardinals’ top two pitchers this weekend, Danielle Watson (13-5, 2.09 ERA) and Megan Hensley (8-3, 2.61 ERA).
Watson has been a dominant force in the circle this year, limiting opposing batters to a .195 batting average while striking out 79 hitters in 94 innings pitched.
Hensley has been equally difficult to face off against, holding opposing hitters to a .232 average and walking fewer than three batters per seven innings.
In order to beat Watson, the Wolfpack is going to have to be patient; Watson has walked 53 batters in her 94 innings pitched and has hit 14 batters. If the Pack is selective at the plate and takes what Watson gives it, a series win could be in the cards.
The Pack might need to take a different approach against Hensley this weekend; the Cards pitcher is allowing almost one hit per inning, so the Wolfpack will surely be looking to be aggressive early and often.
The Wolfpack (19-13, 3-5 ACC) is fresh off a thrilling win over perennial Softball College World Series participant South Carolina Upstate and will be looking to boost its own postseason resume with a series win over Louisville.
Sophomore Devin Wallace (11-5, 2.21 ERA) and freshman Kama Woodall (5-5, 3.11 ERA) will likely get the starts for the Pack. If either of the Pack’s starters gets into trouble, senior Harli Hubbard’s (2-2, 0.91 ERA) name will be called out of the bullpen.
Wallace has been excellent as the Pack’s ace this year, holding opponents to a .213 batting average in her 117 innings pitched and is coming off a complete game, two-hit win over SC Upstate.
The Pack’s bats are led by senior shortstop Alyssa Compton, who is hitting .329, and freshman infielder Chandley Garner, who is hitting .299 and leads the Wolfpack with six home runs.
Sophomore catcher Haylee Kobziak has caught fire as of late, hitting two home runs in the Homewood Suites by Hilton RDU/RTP Challenge last weekend and raising her batting average to .326.
The Wolfpack’s weekend series will kick off Friday with a doubleheader in Ulmer Stadium starting at 2 p.m.
