NC State Softball Heads to Syracuse for ACC Series

Saturday, April 16

Syracuse, N.Y. (Skytop Softball Stadium)

1 P.M.

NC State

Syracuse (DH)

Photo by: Greg Mintel

NC State Softball Heads to Syracuse for ACC Series

4/15/2016 5:19:00 PM | Softball

Head Coach Shawn Rychcik seeks 400th career victory

RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State softball head coach Shawn Rychcik will try for career win No. 400 this weekend when the Wolfpack heads to New York for a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) series against the Syracuse Orange. Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., while Sunday's single game will begin at noon.

The Wolfpack enters the contest with a 19-24 and 3-8 mark in conference play, while the Orange own a 21-17 and 6-8 ledger in league action.

NC State and Syracuse have met four times in the history of the programs with the Wolfpack winning all four prior matchups. Last season, the teams were set to meet in Raleigh, but inclement weather forced the series to be canceled.

The Wolfpack and Cuse last met in 2014 when the Pack won both games of a doubleheader in Syracuse.

Last Time Out
In its last outing of the season, NC State swept a home doubleheader against Campbell. The Wolfpack won game one of the twin bill, 8-5, and then erupted for a 9-1 run-rule victory in the second contest of the day.

Syracuse also swept a doubleheader, taking down Canisius twice at home. The Cuse won the first game, 4-1, and claimed the second game by a 22-1 score.

Rychcik Approaching 400
With the doubleheader sweep on Wednesday, Rychcik now has 399 career wins to his credit and will reach 400 with a win in the series this weekend.

The More, The Merrier
NC State has out-hit its opponent 15 times this year and is 13-2 when accomplishing the feat.

Scoring First
The Wolfpack has scored first in 13 of its 17 wins this season and in contrast, has just six wins when the opponent scores first.

Crucial Third Inning
NC State has compiled a record of 13-4 when leading after the third inning. In contrast, the Wolfpack is just 2-15 when trailing at the end of the third frame.

Hutchison, Ross Moving Up NC State Record Books
Juniors Molly Hutchison and Tyler Ross each have 32 home runs in their Wolfpack careers, which ties for third in the record books. Hutchison has hit nine out of the park this season and smacked 13 last year and 10 as a freshman. Ross is second in the ACC this year with 14 home runs, which matches her total from all of 2015 and homered four times as a freshman.

Burroughs, Hutchison On a Roll
Hutchison has been on a tear for NC State at the plate in the last 12 games, as she has reached base safely in every game. Sophomore Meredith Burroughs has a similar streak, reaching base safely in the previous 10 games.

Scouting Syracuse
- Syracuse has a 7-2 mark in home games played at Skytop Softball Stadium this season.
- The Orange have ACC wins against Georgia Tech and North Carolina, and two each against Notre Dame and Virginia.
- Offensively, Syracuse has a .241 batting average as a team and is scoring 4.21 runs per game.
- Sammy Fernandez leads the team at the plate with a .300 clip and a team-best 39 hits.
- In the circle, Cuse pitcher Sydney O'Hara leads the ACC with a 1.82 earned run average (ERA) to go along with a 3-2 record. Jocelyn Carter has pitched the most innings for the squad with 106.2 and a 10-6 win-loss mark.
- As a staff, Orange pitchers have combined to register a 3.14 ERA.