Friday, February 15
Raleigh, N.C.
12:30 PM
NC State
vs
Nebraska
#17 Softball Opens Home Slate This Weekend With ACC/B1G Challenge
2/14/2019 10:12:00 AM | Softball
RALEIGH – After picking up three wins on opening weekend against a strong field, the No. 17 NC State softball team (3-2) will open its home slate this weekend when it welcomes Nebraska (3-2), ACC counterpart Pittsburgh (1-4) and Wisconsin (4-1) to Dail Softball Stadium for the ACC/B1G Challenge.
The Wolfpack and Panthers will play the Huskers and Badgers twice apiece, but not each other in the tournament. All of NC State's games will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra, and live stats will be available.
Updated Tournament Schedule
Due to the expected rain moving in this weekend, there has been a change to the tournament schedule.
Game 1 Feb. 15 10 AM Wisconsin vs. Pittsburgh
Game 2 Feb. 15 12:30 PM Nebraska vs. NC State
Game 3 Feb. 15 3 PM NC State vs. Wisconsin
Game 4 Feb. 15 5:30 PM Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh
Game 5 Feb. 16 12 PM Pittsburgh vs. Wisconsin
Game 6 Feb. 16 2:30 PM NC State vs. Nebraska
Game 7 Feb. 17 10 AM Pittsburgh vs. Nebraska
Game 8 Feb. 17 12:30 PM Wisconsin vs. NC State
*Saturday's ticket will also be honored Friday.
*A virtual parking permit will be required for all of Friday's games before 5 p.m. (https://bit.ly/2BwmemG)
Last Time Out
NC State traveled to Tampa, Fla., to compete in the USF Opening Weekend Invitational Feb. 8-10. The Pack came away with a 3-2 record, with wins over No. 7 Arizona, South Florida, who was receiving votes for the top 25 at the time, and Illinois State.
Its win over the Wildcats was the first win against a ranked opponent since Feb. 16, 2018, when the Pack defeated No. 22 Ohio State, 5-4, in eight innings. NC State's last win against a top 10 team was when the Pack defeated eighth-ranked Florida State, 9-4, on April 4, 2015, and its last victory against a nonconference top 10 opponent was May 17, 2014, when NC State topped No. 7 Georgia, 5-4.
The squad additionally went toe-to-toe with No. 5 Florida and 19th-ranked Michigan, losing both games by just one run.
Back In The Rankings
Thanks to its strong showing in Tampa, the Wolfpack entered the top 25 for the first time since Jan. 26, 2016, as it checked in at No. 17 and 23, respectively, in Fastpitch News and Softball America's first regular season polls of the year. In the 2016 preseason NFCA/USA Today and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls, NC State was ranked 23rd and 25th, in respective order.
The last time NC State was ranked in a regular season poll was on March 10, 2015, when it was ranked 25th in both polls after a sweep over then-No. 23 Notre Dame.
NC State is additionally receiving votes for this week's NFCA/USA Today and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls.
#HomeRunMindset
NC State hit eight home runs on opening weekend, averaging 1.6 home runs a game. It was the most among all ACC schools, and the ninth-most in the NCAA. Logan Morris and Brigette Nordberg currently led the team with two apiece, which is T30th this week in the NCAA.
Sit 'Em Down
Sydney Nester (2.14 ERA) and Devin Wallace (.91 ERA) picked up the Pack's three wins in the circle on opening weekend. They each threw a complete game, combined for 26 strikeouts over the five games and held opponents to a combined .197 batting average.
Scouting The Competition
-NC State's series with Nebraska and Wisconsin is tied at one. The last time NC State faced both teams was in February of 2016 when it hosted both in the ACC/B1G Challenge at Dail Stadium.
-Nebraska returns All-B1G selections Tristen Edwards and Alyvia Simmons, and Wisconsin returns 2018 B1G All-Freshman Team honorees Haley Hestekin and Taylor Johnson. Simmons and Hestekin both earned all-region honors last season.
-The Huskers (3-2) and Badgers (4-1) opened their seasons last weekend at the Scrapyard Tournament. Nebraska lost to Texas Tech twice, while Wisconsin's only loss was also to the Red Raiders.
-Nebraska's top performer at the plate on opening weekend was Bri Cassidy (.563 BA, 9 H, 4 RBI, 1.463 OPS), and its top pitcher was Regan Mergele (2.10 ERA, 4 APP, 2 SV, 10.0 IP, 16 SO, 3 ER).
-Johnson led Wisconsin's hitters last weekend (.563 BA, 9 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 1.517 OPS), and Maddie Schwartz led its pitching staff (0.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1 CG, 8.0 IP, 4 SO).
On Deck
NC State will play its first midweek game of the season when it travels to Elon Feb. 20. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Tickets
Season and single-game tickets are now on sale. NC State is slated to play 30 games at Dail Stadium this spring. Fans can go to gopack.com/tickets or call 919-865-1910 to purchase tickets.
The Wolfpack and Panthers will play the Huskers and Badgers twice apiece, but not each other in the tournament. All of NC State's games will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra, and live stats will be available.
Updated Tournament Schedule
Due to the expected rain moving in this weekend, there has been a change to the tournament schedule.
Game 1 Feb. 15 10 AM Wisconsin vs. Pittsburgh
Game 2 Feb. 15 12:30 PM Nebraska vs. NC State
Game 3 Feb. 15 3 PM NC State vs. Wisconsin
Game 4 Feb. 15 5:30 PM Nebraska vs. Pittsburgh
Game 5 Feb. 16 12 PM Pittsburgh vs. Wisconsin
Game 6 Feb. 16 2:30 PM NC State vs. Nebraska
Game 7 Feb. 17 10 AM Pittsburgh vs. Nebraska
Game 8 Feb. 17 12:30 PM Wisconsin vs. NC State
*Saturday's ticket will also be honored Friday.
*A virtual parking permit will be required for all of Friday's games before 5 p.m. (https://bit.ly/2BwmemG)
Last Time Out
NC State traveled to Tampa, Fla., to compete in the USF Opening Weekend Invitational Feb. 8-10. The Pack came away with a 3-2 record, with wins over No. 7 Arizona, South Florida, who was receiving votes for the top 25 at the time, and Illinois State.
Its win over the Wildcats was the first win against a ranked opponent since Feb. 16, 2018, when the Pack defeated No. 22 Ohio State, 5-4, in eight innings. NC State's last win against a top 10 team was when the Pack defeated eighth-ranked Florida State, 9-4, on April 4, 2015, and its last victory against a nonconference top 10 opponent was May 17, 2014, when NC State topped No. 7 Georgia, 5-4.
The squad additionally went toe-to-toe with No. 5 Florida and 19th-ranked Michigan, losing both games by just one run.
Back In The Rankings
Thanks to its strong showing in Tampa, the Wolfpack entered the top 25 for the first time since Jan. 26, 2016, as it checked in at No. 17 and 23, respectively, in Fastpitch News and Softball America's first regular season polls of the year. In the 2016 preseason NFCA/USA Today and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls, NC State was ranked 23rd and 25th, in respective order.
The last time NC State was ranked in a regular season poll was on March 10, 2015, when it was ranked 25th in both polls after a sweep over then-No. 23 Notre Dame.
NC State is additionally receiving votes for this week's NFCA/USA Today and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls.
#HomeRunMindset
NC State hit eight home runs on opening weekend, averaging 1.6 home runs a game. It was the most among all ACC schools, and the ninth-most in the NCAA. Logan Morris and Brigette Nordberg currently led the team with two apiece, which is T30th this week in the NCAA.
Sit 'Em Down
Sydney Nester (2.14 ERA) and Devin Wallace (.91 ERA) picked up the Pack's three wins in the circle on opening weekend. They each threw a complete game, combined for 26 strikeouts over the five games and held opponents to a combined .197 batting average.
Scouting The Competition
-NC State's series with Nebraska and Wisconsin is tied at one. The last time NC State faced both teams was in February of 2016 when it hosted both in the ACC/B1G Challenge at Dail Stadium.
-Nebraska returns All-B1G selections Tristen Edwards and Alyvia Simmons, and Wisconsin returns 2018 B1G All-Freshman Team honorees Haley Hestekin and Taylor Johnson. Simmons and Hestekin both earned all-region honors last season.
-The Huskers (3-2) and Badgers (4-1) opened their seasons last weekend at the Scrapyard Tournament. Nebraska lost to Texas Tech twice, while Wisconsin's only loss was also to the Red Raiders.
-Nebraska's top performer at the plate on opening weekend was Bri Cassidy (.563 BA, 9 H, 4 RBI, 1.463 OPS), and its top pitcher was Regan Mergele (2.10 ERA, 4 APP, 2 SV, 10.0 IP, 16 SO, 3 ER).
-Johnson led Wisconsin's hitters last weekend (.563 BA, 9 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 1.517 OPS), and Maddie Schwartz led its pitching staff (0.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 1 CG, 8.0 IP, 4 SO).
On Deck
NC State will play its first midweek game of the season when it travels to Elon Feb. 20. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Tickets
Season and single-game tickets are now on sale. NC State is slated to play 30 games at Dail Stadium this spring. Fans can go to gopack.com/tickets or call 919-865-1910 to purchase tickets.
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
ULT
/ Softball
P
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