After splitting a doubleheader against East Carolina on Wednesday with an 11-inning loss, No. 24 N.C. State will travel to Blacksburg, Va., to face No. 25 Virginia Tech this weekend.
When the Wolfpack met the Hokies at Walnut Creek in Raleigh last March for a three-game series, the Pack came away with one win. The main obstacle in the way was pitcher Angela Tincher.
“We battled both games against [Tincher], and we just came up on the short end of the stick,” Navas told Technician last year. “We just need to get better.”
This season State has been strong at the plate, as Allison Presnell broke a school record for consecutive RBIs on Wednesday and leads the team with eight home runs. With 44 total home runs, senior Jen Chamberlin is two hits away from tying the ACC career record. The team has accumulated 38 total home runs this season.
But, as Navas has been known to say, home runs are just mistakes of the pitcher.
While the Pack is strong at bat, it still has to go through Tincher to get a win.
This week, Tincher was named Co-National Player of the Week by USA softball as well as Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week. The honors came after she allowed one run and gained 29 strikeouts in 15 innings of play.
The explosive hits so characteristic of State softball were missing Wednesday night and will be necessary to gain any ground in Blacksburg.
“We’ve got to get better,” Navas said. “We’re going to face a great pitcher, and we just need to hit the ball and play a little bit better defense.”
Navas said the Pack will be not only looking for tight hitting against Tincher but to strengthening field play after defensive errors resulted in costly, game-winning runs Wednesday night.
While State made some reaching catches and tough stops Wednesday, pass balls ultimately cost it the game. A tighter field, Navas said, is essential for success against the Hokies.
In preparation for this weekend, Navas said the team will work on “everything against Virginia Tech,” looking to improve in the field as well as in the batter’s box.
In the one win against the Hokies last year, senior Shaina Ervin pitched a shutout, allowing no runs.
This weekend, she said, State needs to come prepared to play strong defense as well as hit, and all positions need to step up their game.
“We need to find a way to get it done,” Ervin said. “We need to find a way to win. And that’s for every single person on the team.”