North Carolina State University Athletics
Softball to Host Wolfpack Challenge this Weekend
3/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State softball program will host its annual Wolfpack Challenge this weekend, March 5-7, at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium on campus. Admission to all games is free, and live stats will be provided on GoPack.com.
Coastal Carolina, Georgetown, Longwood and Stony Brook round out the tournament field.
The Pack is 8-2 all-time vs. Coastal Carolina, having won six straight including the last two meetings in April of 2008.
NC State has never faced Georgetown, Longwood or Stony Brook on the diamond.
The Wolfpack (9-7) is receiving votes in the latest NFCA top-25 national poll following three strong wins this past weekend at the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic. NC State downed No. 24 UMass, Mississippi State and Southern Illinois, the latter two of which were both receiving votes in the top-25 poll.
Kristine Bechtholdt and Alyssa Allbritten both wielded hot bats for the Wolfpack last weekend, with Bechtholdt hitting .333 and Allbritten swinging at a .308 clip. Stephanie Call (.366, 15 RBI, 6 HR) and Landon Warren (.349, 15 hits) have consistently paced the offense.
Lindsay Campana (6-2, 0.65 ERA) has fanned 10 or more in four straight games, tying a career-best with 14 against Auburn. She has allowed just eight earned runs in nine appearances this season, tossing seven complete games. She leads the conference in ERA and is second in K’s with 82.
Call (2-1), Morgan Peeler (1-4) and Linzy Rother (0-0) have all logged innings for the Pack in the circle, and will look to get work this weekend.
Coastal Carolina (5-7) dropped three of four games this past weekend at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic in Conway, S.C., falling to DePaul, Canisius and Jacksonville. Jazmin Daigle (.364, 8 RBI, 3 HR) and Michelle Evans (.344, 4 2B, 4 RBI) front the Chanticleers offense, while Ashley Frederick (3-4, 2.31 ERA) has tossed the majority of innings in the circle.
Georgetown head coach Pat Conlan returns to NC State after serving as an assistant coach under head coach Lisa Navas during the first two seasons of the Wolfpack program’s existence. The Hoyas (4-5) went 2-3 this past weekend at the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn., and are hitting .291 as a team. A trio of hurlers has combined for a 3.52 ERA and 40 strikeouts.
Longwood (6-6) split four games at its own tournament this past weekend. The Lancers have been getting tremendous offense from Brooke Short (.465, 15 RBI, 5 HR) and Nichole Simmons (.282, 10 RBI, 3 HR), with the duo combining for 25 of the team’s 62 RBIs. Briana Wells (5-3, 3.13 ERA) has worked 44.2 innings total, well over 20 more than the rest of the staff.
Stony Brook (3-2) started its season just last weekend at the Charlotte First Pitch Classic in Charlotte, N.C., with a victory over Toledo and two against Saint Francis (PA). Bernadette Tenuto hit .500 for the Seawolves and drove in seven runs, while Alyssa Struzenberg (2-1, 0.44 ERA) and Casey Jacobs (1-0, 0.00 ERA) both earned wins.
Fans in attendance are asked to donate new and / or gently worn shoes to the “Share Our Shoes” charity program. A barrel will be setup near the press box area for donations. Fans are asked to please bring multiple pairs in a trash bag or box.
Next week NC State will play a midweek doubleheader at Campbell before heading to the Winthrop/adidas Invitational.
Wolfpack Challenge Schedule
Friday, March 5
4 p.m. • Stony Brook vs. Georgetown
6 p.m. • Coastal Carolina vs. NC State
Saturday, March 6
10 a.m. • Longwood vs. Coastal Carolina
12 NOON • Coastal Carolina vs. Georgetown
2:30 p.m. • Longwood vs. Stony Brook
4:30 p.m. • Georgetown vs. NC State
6:30 p.m. • NC State vs. Stony Brook
Sunday, March 7
10 a.m. • Georgetown vs. Longwood
12 NOON • Stony Brook vs. Coastal Carolina
2 p.m. • Longwood vs. NC State
BOLD indicates home team
