The NC State softball team will host Virginia this weekend in its second to last ACC series before heading into the conference tournament. After defeating Duke two games to one over the weekend, the Wolfpack (26-23, 6-12 ACC) is on a high road with its first series win since taking two of three games from Boston College at the end of March.
With only one series win this year so far, the Cavaliers (17-30, 5-16 ACC) will be looking to take the games to improve their overall record.
Let’s take a look at the key players for each team:
NC State
Sophomore infielder Logan Morris ranks second on the team with home runs at eight, while batting .252 on the season. Morris has tallied 33 hits with 21 RBIs to assist NC State with its winning record.
Junior utility player Bridgette Nordberg has led the team offensively almost all season with 46 hits and 15 home runs. Nordberg holds onto the best slugging percentage on the team with a .688 clip as she continues her consistency of reaching base safely.
Junior outfielder Angie Rizzi has made a huge impact on the team defensively as she’s tallied 70 putouts and three assists while maintaining a .986 fielding percentage in center field. Rizzi is 7 for 8 in stolen bases with a .345 on-base percentage.
Virginia
Senior infielder Lacy Smith leads the Cavaliers at the plate with a .406 batting average and 58 hits with 14 doubles and 14 home runs. Smith has become Virginia’s secret weapon offensively, but as a pitcher, she is sporting a 0.00 ERA with a 1-1 record.
Sophomore infielder Hayley Busby is following closely behind Smith as she carries a .638 slugging percentage with 18 RBIs. Defensively, Busby has contributed 54 putouts with 65 assists.
Senior Allyson Frei has secured a 5-14 record on the mound as she sports 106 strikeouts in 109 innings. With 88 earned runs scored on the pitcher, Frei averages out to a 5.63 ERA on the season.
The series between the Wolfpack and Cavaliers will begin Friday at 6:00 p.m. at Dail Softball Stadium. Friday’s gameday promotion is pink game where cancer survivors will participate in a pregame celebration.
