Pack Softball Splits Season Opener in Louisiana

Friday, February 6

Lafayette, La.

4:00 PM

NC State

1-0

No. 9/15 Louisiana

0-1

Louisiana

NC State

2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Feb. 6, 2015

Louisiana Box Score | Central Arkansas Box Score 

LAFAYETTE, La. – The NC State softball team opened the 2015 season by splitting a pair of games held at Lamson Park in Lafayette, La., on Friday afternoon. In the first contest of the day, the Wolfpack dropped a 6-0 decision against the ninth-ranked Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, but bounced back in the nightcap with a 7-0 win against Central Arkansas.

Rychcik’s Review
“It’s disappointing not to get two wins today,” said head coach Shawn Rychcik. “We didn’t swing the bat well in the first game, we weren’t very decisive and we weren’t aggressive. Emily [Weiman] pitched well and the hits she gave up were on pretty good pitches and Louisiana’s a good hitting team.

“In game two, our bats came alive and we were able to take the lead early. Courtney [Mirabella] was really good today, throwing a two-hitter with 14 strikeouts. I thought our defense was really good today, so overall I’m pretty pleased.”

Worth Noting (Game One versus Louisiana)
- The Wolfpack (1-1) battled the ninth-ranked Ragin Cajuns (1-0), but Louisiana emerged victorious with a 6-0 win.
- A four-run third inning by the Cajuns allowed them to pull ahead, 5-0, and they added another in the sixth inning. Despite being held scoreless in the contest, the Pack had a runner reach base in every inning and retired the Cajuns in order twice - in the second and fifth innings.
- Senior Renada Davis and sophomore Tyler Ross each recorded one hit in the contest for the Pack.
- in the circle, senior Emily Weiman (0-1) earned the start for NC State and pitched six innings before giving way to freshman Harli Hubbard, who pitched the final frame. Weiman recorded six strikeouts in the contest and struck out the side in the second inning, while Hubbard collected a strikeout in one inning of work.

Worth Noting (Game Two versus Central Arkansas)
- Sophomore Courtney Mirabella (1-0) made a strong #STATEment in her first outing of the 2015 season,  as she threw a complete game two-hitter and tallied a career-best 14 strikeouts in a 7-0 win against Central Arkansas (1-1).
- The Wolfpack bats came alive in the second game of the day, as NC State outhit Central Arkansas, 11-2.
- Ross led the charge for the Pack at the plate with a 3-for-4 outing, including two runs batted in (RBI). Sophomore Molly Hutchison and freshman Meredith Burroughs each added two hits in the contest, while Maggie Hawkins, Sara Lippard, Lana Van Dyken and Hannah Yeager chipped in with one hit apiece.
- Mirabella was outstanding in the circle for the Wolfpack, as she started the game by striking out the side in the first inning. She accomplished the feat again in the third inning. Her command was excellent throughout the game and as a result, four of her 14 strikeouts were looking.

Up Next
The Wolfpack will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 7 when it faces the Memphis Tigers at 1:30 p.m. (ET), prior to a matchup against No. 19 LSU at 6:30 p.m. (ET).

#STATEment