It was a few weeks into her first few practices under new head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift that Brigette Nordberg realized her enormous potential.
The junior transfer from Maryland had never been a power hitter in college; she hit just two home runs in 91 games in College Park. Now, she’s hit eight in her last seven games and 11 on the season, third-most in the entire country, and was just named National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player of the Week for Feb. 25 through March 3 after hitting .750 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs.
“When I first got [to NC State], I thought learning a new swing was going to be hard,” Nordberg said. “The new swing adds so much more power… The swing works; it’s crazy.”
Upon arriving in Raleigh, Nordberg quickly bought into the coaching staff’s “home-run mindset” and embraced the idea of developing into a power hitter. Since buying in, she’s quickly established herself as not just a power hitter, but one of the best hitters in the NCAA, period.
“[Brigette] has just been locked in,” Patrick-Swift said. “Her timing is on, and she’s done everything we talk every day about doing.”
Nordberg leads the Pack in almost every offensive category, hitting .451 on the season, with on-base and slugging percentages of .462 and 1.029, respectively. She also leads the team with 11 home runs, 23 hits, two triples, 27 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
“It’s been great seeing Brigette up there,” said sophomore outfielder Sam Russ. “It’s crazy to see how hot she’s been.”
The biggest individual recipient of Nordberg’s production has been Russ. The sophomore leadoff hitter has been on base for eight of Nordberg’s home runs and has been driven in by Nordberg ten times. Although Russ is more than capable of hitting for power (she has two home runs, a triple and a double), having Nordberg behind her has shifted her approach at the plate.
“My mentality now is I’m trying to incorporate the bunt a little more,” Russ said. “Making sure I’m swinging at good pitches, because the last few games, almost every time I’ve gotten on base [Nordberg] has hit a home run.”
Although Nordberg hits second in the Wolfpack’s lineup and has a power hitter in sophomore infielder Logan Morris (five home runs, .667 slugging percentage) behind her, the slugger is beginning to see pitchers throw around her, making the business decision to give Nordberg one base by walk rather than four bases by home run. Nordberg has been walked six times in her last five games, including three times in a row after hitting a first-inning home run in a 6-0 win over Charleston Southern on Saturday night.
“It’s frustrating because obviously, I want to hit a home run,” Nordberg said. “But if [pitchers] are going to walk me or pitch around me, I know that someone behind me is going to hit a home run.”
The junior from Exton, Pennsylvania isn’t built like a typical home-run hitter. With average height and a slight frame, Nordberg relies heavily on her approach and her new swing rather than pure strength, citing a 50-50 split in importance between the two.
“I knew coming in I was going to buy 100 percent into [the approach],” Nordberg said. “But the swing is definitely 50 percent of my success.”
Her counting numbers thus far on the season would constitute a successful complete season for most softball players, but Nordberg isn’t one to get complacent with her early-season success. The ACC’s leader in home runs, slugging percentage, RBIs and extra-base hits is ready to keep her and the team rolling.
“I hope I keep going like this,” Nordberg said. “It’ll all come together. We’re going to shock a lot of people this year. I can’t wait to show the world what we can do.”
