North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Softball to Host Wolfpack Challenge
2/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State softball will return to the field this weekend, hosting the Wolfpack Challenge, Feb. 27- March 1, at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium. Buffalo, Canisius, College of Charleston, Notre Dame and St. John’s round out the tournament field. Live stats will be available for all tournament contests via GoPack.com.
State will take on Canisius on Friday, Feb. 27 (2:30 p.m.), before battling Notre Dame (11 a.m.) and Buffalo (1 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 28. The red and white will then take on St. John’s (1 p.m.) and College of Charleston (3 p.m.) on Sunday, March 1.
The Pack stands at 3-6 on the young season after picking up a 6-0 win over Siena in its home opener on Wednesday. Bridget Desbois belted a three-run home run, Alyssa Ishibashi added two RBIs and Hannah Ojeda went 3-for-3 at the plate. Mendy McKenzie (1-2) tossed a one-hitter, picking up her first victory of the season.
One Shy of 200
With an all-time record of 199-127 in five years of play, the Wolfpack softball program is just one victory short of its historic 200th win.
Scouting the Opposition
Buffalo stands at 2-2 with wins over Drexel and Memphis. Erin Zilka was named MAC East Player of the Week this past Monday after a solid showing last weekend at the K-Club Classic in Kennesaw, Ga. Zilka batted .455 batting and slugged .545 with five hits. Three pitchers have found work for the Bulls, with Terese Diaz (2-0) carrying a 1.75 ERA in 16 innings of work.
Canisius enters the weekend at 2-0 after sweeping a doubleheader at Norfolk State this past Sunday. The Golden Griffins were tabbed as the MAAC preseason favorite for the third straight season, and four players - Juliette Bowers, Michelle Fridey, Lauren Hope and Cameron Norton - were named to the preseason all-conference team. Bowers was named conference pitcher of the year last season after compiling a 20-3 record.
College of Charleston carries a 4-9 slate, having dropped two in a row. Cougars pitcher Terri Mesko will attempt to become the all-time College of Charleston strikeout leader during the team’s trip to Raleigh. Mesko enters the weekend with 446 career K’s, 17 shy of the school record. Kristie Shifflett is batting .333 with 19 total bases, while Christal Kotchman posts on-base percentage of .405.
Notre Dame will be making its first trek in program history to the state of North Carolina. The Fighting Irish are 3-5 on the year after splitting four games at the Nike Invitational last weekend in Palo Alto, Calif. Brittney Bargar (3-1) has held opponents to a .167 batting average while posting a 1.18 ERA in 29.2 innings in the circle. Erin Marrone is batting .364, while Heather Johnson leads the Fighting Irish with five RBIs.
St. John’s is in the middle of a three-game win streak with a 6-3 overall record, its best start to the season since 1999. Linzee Sumrall was named Big East Pitcher of the Week this past Monday after fanning 22 batters in two complete-game shutouts to lead the Red Storm to the Longwood Classic title last weekend in Farmville, Va.
The All-Time Series vs. the Tournament Field
NC State is 4-0 vs. the Wolfpack Challenge field. The Pack is 2-0 all-time against St. John’s, while owning a 1-0 slate against both Buffalo and College of Charleston. The Wolfpack Challenge will mark the first time that State has ever met Canisius and Notre Dame on the diamond.
