North Carolina State University Athletics
Softball Season to Open at UCF Tournament
2/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. - The time has finally come. NC State will open its fifth season of play at the UCF Softball Tournament in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 8-10. State will battle Kansas, Central Florida, Illinois State and Central Arkansas, with another game to be determined at the end of the tournament. The event will serve as the opening weekend for all of the participating teams. The Pack will be exchanging a lot of pleasantries over the course of the weekend, having never faced a single team in the tournament field.
Although not ranked in the top-25 in either of the nation’s two most respected polls, the ESPN.com/USA Softball and USA Today/NFCA, NC State is picking up votes in both.
The red and white holds a 3-1 record in season opening games, dropping its first-ever contest to Radford (1-0) in 2004 and winning out ever since. The past three years NC State has topped Mississippi Valley State (6-4 in '05), Centenary College (4-1 in '06) and Ohio (7-0 in '07). Former All-America hurler Abbie Sims tossed a no-hitter in the 07 opener against the Bobcats.
NC State is certainly no stranger to playing games in Florida, holding a 20-19 all-time record in the Sunshine State. In '04, the program’s inaugural year, the red and white went 2-7 in games played in Florida, following with a 2-3 performance in '05, an 8-4 showing in '06 and an 8-5 clip in '07. State won the Cox Communications Classic in Gainesville, hosted by the Florida Gators, a year ago.
Central Arkansas, a member of the Southland Conference, went 16-42 in '07. The Bears return 10 letterwinners from its previous campaign, including four senior leaders. Lyndsey Harris served as the team’s top pitching threat a year ago, tossing six wins in 196 innings of work. Brittany Bearden and Janae Owens return to the lineup after combining for a .280 batting average, 11 dingers and 49 RBIs in 07.
Central Florida, which finished fourth in Conference USA last year, went 38-26 in 07. The Golden Knights return nine starters from the previous season, including Allison Kime who led the league in 07 with a 0.87 ERA, and Breanne Javier who hit .326 with 25 RBIs and 11 doubles.
Illinois State, out of the Missouri Valley Conference, went 44-17-1 last year while making its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Redbirds boast two prior All-Americas (Kara Nelson - 07, Amber Smith - 06) and four previous all-conference players. Despite not being ranked, Illinois State is picking up votes in both the ESPN.com/USA Softball and USA Today/NFCA Division I polls. The Redbirds do not, however, return any of its starting pitching from last year.
Big XII brethren Kansas returns 13 letterwinners and eight starters from the 07 33-24-1 squad. Stevie Crisosto, Sara Ramirez, Dougie McCaulley and Val Chapple started all 58 of the Jayhawks contests last season, with Crisosto batting .302 and swiping 13 bags. Elle Pottorf and Amanda Jobe both return to the fold after having exceptional success during the prior campaign. Pottorf knocked in 37 RBIs and slugged .459 in 07, while Jobe had a .295 batting clip and a .992 fielding percentage.
Following this weekend, State will make the trek to Boca Raton, Fla., for the FAU "Strike-Out" Cancer Tournament Feb. 15-17. The Pack will take on Kent State, Florida Atlantic, Long Island and Miami (Ohio).
