North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Softball Opens 2015 Campaign on Friday
2/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Friday, Feb. 6 at Lamson Park (Lafayette, La.)
Game One - vs. No. 9 Louisiana | 4 p.m. (ET)
Game Two - vs. Central Arkansas | 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Saturday, Feb. 7 at Tiger Park (Baton Rouge, La.)
Game Three - vs. Memphis | 1 p.m. (ET)
Game Four - vs. No. 19 LSU | 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Sunday, Feb. 8 at Tiger Park (Baton Rouge, La.)
Game Five - vs. No. 19 LSU | 1 p.m. (ET)
Rounding Third with Coach Rychcik: 2015 Season Preview | Louisiana Classic Tournament Central | Tiger Classic Tournament Central
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State softball team will open the 2015 season this weekend when it travels to the state of Louisiana to play five games over the course of three days. The Wolfpack will begin competition on Friday, Feb. 6, when it takes on the No. 9 Louisiana Ragin Cajuns in Lafayette at 4 p.m. (ET).
After facing Louisiana, the Pack will play Central Arkansas in the second contest of the day for both teams at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, NC State will face Memphis at 1 p.m., before returning to the field later that day to take on No. 19 LSU Tigers at 6:30 p.m. at Tiger Park on LSU's campus in Baton Rouge. Prior to returning to Raleigh on Sunday, the Wolfpack will play LSU for a second time at 1 p.m. All times are Eastern Standard Time Zone.
The Wolfpack will be looking to build off a very successful 2014 season that saw the squad advance to an NCAA Regional for the second consecutive season. The Pack finished the year with a 36-18 record and returns the core of its team from last season.
Wolfpack in Season Openers
Entering the 12th season of the program, NC State has compiled a 6-5 overall record in season openers dating back to 2004. Last year the Wolfpack dropped a 5-2 decision in its first contest of the season to the Oregon State Beavers in Tempe, Ariz. In 2013, head coach Shawn Rychcik's first season at the helm, the Pack defeated Georgetown, 5-1.
Returning Leadership
The Wolfpack returns two of its top players from a season ago, in the form of senior pitcher Emily Weiman and senior shortstop Renada Davis. Both were All-ACC selections in 2014 and look to lead the Wolfpack in their final seasons.
Taking Over at the Top
Last season senior shortstop Renada Davis set the program record for most home runs in a career with her 50th homer in the NCAA Regional against fourth-seeded Georgia. The previous record of 49 was held by Jen Chamberlin, who was a member of the Pack from 2004-07.
Scouting Louisiana
The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns made their sixth appearance in the Women's College World Series (WCWS) last season and finished the year with a record of 49-10-1. The Cajuns return seven starters from last year's squad, including All-Americans - pitcher Christina Hamilton and catcher Lexie Elkins.
The Wolfpack and Ragin Cajuns have met twice in the history of the programs, with Louisiana earning the win in both contests held at Tiger Park in the 2006 Baton Rouge (La.) NCAA Regional.
Scouting Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas finished the 2014 season with a 25-34 record, including a 13-13 mark in the Southland Conference.
Friday's contest will be the third meeting between the two teams and NC State has won both prior matchups. The Wolfpack earned a 10-0 mercy-rule victory in 2008 and collected a 6-0 win against the squad the following day.
Scouting Memphis
The Memphis Tigers ended the 2014 campaign with a 23-33 overall record and a 5-15 mark in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The Tigers return six starters from a season ago, including the team's top hitter sophomore outfielder Lindsay Crowdus, who hit .349 in her initial season.
Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the two teams.
Scouting LSU
LSU compiled a 38-24 record during the 2014 season, including a 13-11 mark in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. The Tigers advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, but saw their season come to a close in the regional final of the Tucson (Ariz.) Regional.
NC State and LSU have never met on the softball field, as Saturday and Sunday's contests will mark the first two meetings in the all-time series.
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