Pitt Panthers (17-29, 6-15 ACC)
at NC State Wolfpack (27-23, 3-18 ACC)
Dail Softball Stadium | Raleigh, N.C.
May 3-4, 2024
QUICK HITS: Pitt concludes the regular season with a three-game series at NC State, May 3-4. Due to rain and thunderstorms predicted in the forecast, the Panthers will now play a doubleheader on Friday, beginning at 4 p.m. and a single game on Saturday at 2 p.m. Saturday’s matchup will air on ACC Network with Alex Perlman and Donna Papa calling the action. The games on Friday will both air on ACC Network Extra.
LAST TIME OUT: Pitt and NC State faced off to end the 2023 regular season at Vartabedian field May 5-6, 2023. The Panthers swept the Wolfpack to earn their first series sweep since taking all four games against North Carolina from April 16-18, 2021. Pitt defeated NC State in the series opener, 10-9, in 8 innings on Friday and won both games of a doubleheader by the scores of 12-8 and 9-5 on Saturday.
2024 ACC TOURNAMENT: The Panthers enter the final week of the regular season, contending for a spot in the 2024 ACC Tournament. The last time the Panthers qualified for the ACC Tournament was in 2018. Pitt has made a total of three appearances in the tournament (2015, 2016, 2018) since joining the conference in 2014.
Seven teams have already clinched a spot in the tournament with Pitt, Boston College, Notre Dame, Louisville and Syracuse all vying for the final three spots in the ACC Tournament. The Panthers will need to win at least two games against NC State to remain in consideration for an ACC Tournament berth. Key matchups this weekend (May 3-5) includes the Panthers traveling to NC State, Boston College hosting Louisville, and Syracuse hosting Florida State. Notre Dame will not play this weekend after finishing their regular season schedule last weekend against Boston College.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Junior catcher KK Esparza ranks third in the ACC and ranks 27th in the NCAA with 12 caught stealings.
- Esparza boasts a .326 conference batting average and has five caught stealings by in conference play. In 20 conference games, Esparza has a perfect fielding percentage (1.000) without a passed ball or an error.
- Cami Compson ranks ninth in the ACC and 53rd in the NCAA with 13 home runs this season….
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