North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Softball Opens Fall Schedule This Weekend
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. – After almost a month of practice, the NC State softball team will open its fall schedule this weekend when it travels to Longwood on Saturday before returning home to face Campbell on Sunday. Saturday’s doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m., while Sunday’s twin bill at Dail Stadium will start at 1 p.m. as well.
Head coach Shawn Rychcik along with assistant coaches Courtney Oliver and Katie Grimes, have had about a month to work with the team as the squad began fall practice on Sept. 23.
The eight fall games the Wolfpack will play are designed to give the players a chance to play in a competitive game, as well as give the coaching staff a glimpse of what they can expect to see from the team in the spring season.
"We just want to put our defensive work in, get our fundamentals down and compete," Rychcik said in regards to the goal for the team during the fall season. "We also want to see where some of our freshmen are and how some of our upperclassmen have responded to the offseason."
Five seniors departed from the 2013-14 squad and five newcomers have joined the program for the 2014-15 season, including four freshmen and one transfer to bring the team total to 18.
Last season, NC State finished the season with a 36-18 record, including a 16-8 mark in ACC play. State advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season under Rychcik's direction and made history by becoming the first team from the state of North Carolina to win the first two games of an NCAA Regional, advancing to the final without a loss.
NC State was also the first team since 2005 to defeat a top-four national seed before a regional final with the Wolfpack's 5-4 win against fourth-seeded Georgia.
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