The Hokies softball team opens ACC play this weekend with a doubleheader today and a single game tomorrow in Raleigh against the NC State Wolfpack. Today's doubleheader will be televised on ESPN3.

The Hokies currently hold a 5-10 record after playing a VERY difficult early season schedule.

NC State stands at 7-8 and have played their own challenging schedule. Here are some of their notable games:

Split with Wisconsin in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge
Split with Nebraska in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge
Lost to #17 Missouri 17-2
Lost to #1 Florida 5-2
Beat #25 California 7-5
Lost to Stanford 15-9
Lost to #2 Michigan 9-1

The Pack also dropped games to UNCG and Jacksonville.

The Pack is led in the circle by junior Courtney Mirabella, who has started 11 of their 15 games this season. She leads the ACC with 69 strikeouts in 61 innings this season but has a 5.36 ERA.

NC State's second pitcher is Sophomore Harli Hubbard who has two saves this season but holds a 7.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched.

On the offensive side, NC State has a team batting average of .239 compared to the Hokies .222. The Wolfpack has 4 players hitting over .300 with another at .292. On the VT side, only Chelsea Whitcomb is hitting over .300 (.316).

The Pack has more long ball power than the Hokies, with their one-two punch of Tyler Ross and Meredith Burroughs, who rank first and second in the ACC this season with eight and seven home runs, respectively, As a TEAM, the Hokies have only hit a total of 10 HRs, led by Vanessa Gonzalez with 3.

I think the key to the weekend (shocker) is Maggie Tyler. She started the season REALLY slow, giving up 26 runs in 25.2 innings and I was really worried about her. However, in her last 4 games, she has pitched 22 innings, and given up exactly ONE earned run while striking out 35. She’s on a roll and if she keeps that up, the Hokies have a real shot.

I haven’t heard any injury updates on Bre Davenport or Kelsey Mericka – neither played against Radford and the Hokies could certainly really use them in the lineup this weekend.

Hoping the Hokes can get the weekend started off on the right foot and create an omen for basketball later today and wrestling tomorrow.

LET”S GO HOKIES!!!

[Post edited by VTChip at 03/05/2016 12:10PM]