NC State Selected as Host Site for 2017 ACC/B1G Softball Challenge

ACC Release

GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the second consecutive year, NC State has been selected as one of four host sites for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)/ Big Ten (B1G) Softball Challenge, announced Thursday by the league office.

The annual challenge, which debuted last season, will feature eight schools from each conference, playing four games each at four campus sites over a three-day period from Feb. 17-19, 2017.

The Wolfpack will be joined in Raleigh by ACC member Notre Dame, as well as Michigan and Minnesota of the B1G. Two games will be held Friday, Feb. 17, four games Saturday, Feb. 18 and two contests Sunday, Feb. 19.

At Raleigh, N.C. (host – North Carolina State)

Friday, Feb. 17
Game 1 – Notre Dame vs. Minnesota
Game 2 – North Carolina State vs. Michigan

Saturday, Feb. 18
Game 3 – Notre Dame vs. Michigan
Game 4 – Notre Dame vs. Minnesota
Game 5 – North Carolina State vs. Michigan
Game 6 – North Carolina State vs. Minnesota

Sunday, Feb. 19
Game 7 – Notre Dame vs. Michigan
Game 8 – North Carolina State vs. Minnesota

Game times, as well as television coverage, will be announced at a later date. Florida State, Georgia Tech and UNC-Chapel Hill were also selected as host sites for the event.

The Seminoles will welcome Pitt, Nebraska and Northwestern, while Georgia Tech will play host to Virginia Tech, Iowa and Penn State. UNC-Chapel Hill will host Louisville, Ohio State and Purdue to round out the teams competing in the 2017 edition.

NC State and perennial powerhouse Michigan have met four times in the history of programs with the Wolverines winning each matchup. Michigan has also been ranked among the top 15 in each meeting with the Wolfpack.

Last season, the teams met at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., and Michigan won that contest as the second-ranked team in the nation, 9-1.

NC State and Minnesota have met once with the Wolfpack earning a 4-1 win on Feb. 12, 2006, at the Auburn Tiger Invitational in Alabama.

It will be both teams first trip to Raleigh and Dail Stadium.

Last year, the Wolfpack hosted Louisville, Nebraska and Wisconsin at the Raleigh site in the augural year of the event. The B1G won the 2016 challenge, 20-12.

NC State returns four starters from last season, including All-Southeast Region selection Tyler Ross and All-ACC selection Molly Hutchison. The Wolfpack also welcomes a strong freshman class for the 2017 season, as three of the Wolfpack's five signees were named to the FloSoftball Top 100 Watch List.

The Wolfpack's full 2017 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

North Carolina State University Athletics

NC State Selected as Host Site for 2017 ACC/B1G Softball Challenge

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