Softball faces archrival Tar Heels

Ethan Barry, Staff Writer • April 11, 2018

Haylee Kobziak, a sophomore infielder, gets a handshake from head coach Shawn Rychcik on her way to home base after hitting a home run during the game against Campbell University on Wednesday in Dail Softball Stadium. The Wolfpack beat the Fighting Camels 6-5 for their 21st win this season.

The NC State softball team travels to UNC-Chapel Hill this weekend looking to end a five-game losing streak in ACC play.

The Wolfpack (21-19, 4-10) is looking to right the ship in time to make the ACC tournament against the Tar Heels (23-20, 11-4).

The battle of the weekend will be the Tar Heel offense against the Wolfpack pitching. UNC-Chapel Hill is fourth in the ACC with a .260 team batting average while NC State is fifth in the league with a 2.78 ERA.

UNC has depth when it comes to offense: Outfielder Kiani Ramsey leads the Heels with a .402 batting average. First baseman Leah Murray and shortstop Taylor Wike are hitting .356 and .347, respectively, and Wike leads the team by a wide margin with seven home runs and 27 RBI.

In the circle, the Heels rely on Brittany Pickett. She has thrown 225 innings this year and has a 21-7 record with a 2.27 ERA. Kellyn Daly, Katie Grace Olinger and Hannah Nommensen have been given opportunities but have not been able to keep the team in games.

NC State has had a balanced offense this year with seven players hitting over .270, including freshman infielder Chandley Garner who paces the team with eight home runs. Sophomore first baseman Haylee Kobziak leads the Wolfpack with a .328 batting average.

Sophomore Devin Wallace and freshman Kama Woodall have been outstanding in the circle all year for the Wolfpack, posting 2.58 and 2.95 ERAs, respectively.

Ten teams qualify for the ACC tournament and NC State is currently tied for tenth with three series remaining including this weekend. The Wolfpack is tied with Syracuse and travels to New York to face the Orange next weekend before finishing the season against Florida State, which is 11-1 in the ACC.

Because of the remaining schedule, it’s crucial the Wolfpack wins at least one game this weekend against the Tar Heels who are attempting to catch up with the Seminoles for the regular season championship.

Game one is Friday at 6 p.m., game two is Saturday at 1 p.m. and game three is Sunday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU. The first two games will not be broadcast.