Softball Completes Sweep; Davis Sets ACC Mark

The NC State women's softball team won its sixth consecutive game Monday night, completing a sweep at Virginia Tech by a convincing final of 13-4. Renada Davis launched her 62^nd career home run in the game, setting the ACC career mark for long balls, while reigning ACC player of the week Emily Weiman won her 26^th game of the season.

The Pack will be the fifth seed in the ACC tournament, which the Hokies will host May 7^th-May 9^th, and will most likely face Louisville in the tournament, though the Cardinals could potentially tie Notre Dame for third with a sweep of Pittsburgh to close the season. No clue on who gets the tiebreaker in this scenario; the two teams haven't played each other.

State chased Hokie hurler Kelly Heinz, who entered the game with an impressive 12-3 record, with five runs in the first. A two-run single by Morgan Tharrington and a two-run double from Hannah Yeager were the big blows in the frame.

Tyler Ross's three-run, opposite-field homer made the lead comfy again in the fourth after the Hokies had closed to within 5-2. Another Yeager two-run double and Davis's three-run bomb in the fifth game State a mercy-rule margin of victory.

Weiman, who pitched four shutouts last week, ran the Pack's scoreless innings streak to 33 before the Hokies plated a pair in the second. With a tiny, tiny strike zone from home plate ump Dave Mattern, it was tough going for everyone in the circle. Weiman walked five in five innings and three Hokie hurlers combined for four free passes.

The sweep was State's second against a top-40 RPI club (Va. Tech = 37^th) and first away from home. State swept RPI #17 Notre Dame at the Dail on March 7^th and 8^th. The Pack close the regular season with a doubleheader Saturday at Appy State.