North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Softball Begins Practice for 2015 Season
1/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State softball team took to the field for the first time in 2015, as the Wolfpack held its first official practice on Wednesday afternoon at Dail Stadium. The Pack will have almost a month to prepare for its season opener on Feb. 6.
Rychcik's Review
"The first day of practice is always good," said head coach Shawn Rychcik. "Everyone's excited to be back, the weather was a little challenging but we were able to get on the field and get some work in."
"It's always good to get out there the first day and now the challenge for the coaches is what happens in the next few practices and how do we get everybody prepared for the season opener."
2015 Season Outlook
The Wolfpack returns six of its nine starters in the field and its designated player from 2014. Seniors Renada Davis and Emily Weiman are back for their final season to lead the squad in 2015. Both were All-ACC selections a season ago.
NC State has put together a challenging 2015 schedule, which includes 22 games versus 2014 NCAA Tournament teams, 16 games against teams that finished in the top 50 of the final 2014 RPI and the Pack plays four teams that made the Women's College World Series (WCWS) last season.
The season opener for the squad will be on Feb. 6 in Lafayette, La., against 2014 WCWS participant Louisiana-Lafayette.
Fall Season Recap
State enjoyed a successful fall season of exhibition play, which saw the squad post a 7-1 mark. The fall schedule allowed the freshmen to get a glimpse of what playing softball at the collegiate level is like and served as a tune-up for returning players.
2014 Season Highlights
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 just the fifth team since 2005 to defeat a top-four national seed before a regional final with the Wolfpack's 5-4 win against fourth-seeded and seventh-ranked Georgia.
