The Notre Dame Softball team is looking to bounce back this weekend when they meet the NC State Wolfpack for a three-game series starting Friday night in Raleigh.
Friday night’s first pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. and is set to be aired nationally on ACC Network. Saturday will begin at 5:00 p.m. and the last game of the extended road trip is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. The latter two games can be streamed on ACC Network Plus.
Notre Dame is 17-11 all-time against NC State and have won the past five matchups. Last season, the Irish swept the series in South Bend behind brilliant pitching from Alexis Laudenslager. She threw 13.2 IP and only allowed two runs in two starts, struck out 16 and threw a complete game shutout against the Wolfpack.
The Irish are looking to get back in the win column after dropping Tuesday’s midweek game to Ohio State in Columbus 3-2.
Notre Dame pitching has missed a plethora of bats this season, having 153 strikeouts on the year, the fourth most in the ACC. Micaela Kastor, Kami Kamzik and Brianne Weiss are all in the top-25 in the conference in strikeouts.
After Olivia Levitt hit her first career home run against Ohio State, the Irish have now homered in six straight games. Eight different players on the roster have left the yard this season.
The key for Notre Dame will be scoring first. 10 of the 11 wins this season have come when the Irish get on the board first. Notre Dame is 5-0 when leading after the opening frame and 9-1 when heading into the fifth inning with a lead.
This weekend series will wrap up 27 straight games on the road or at a neutral site for the Irish to begin the season. 14 of their next 15 games after this weekend are home games at Melissa Cook Stadium.