North Carolina State University Athletics
Friday, February 7
Clearwater, Fla.
5:00 PM
NC State
vs
Ole Miss
Softball Opens 2020 Season
2/6/2020 9:30:00 AM | Softball
CLEARWATER, FLA. – The NC State softball team officially kicks of its 2020 season this weekend, Feb. 7-9, at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. The Wolfpack will open its second season under the helm of head coach, Jennifer Patrick-Swift, with three consecutive games against top-25 opponents and a total of four teams who made the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
NC State opens the season with a matchup against 2019 Women's College World Series participant, #8/7 Minnesota Friday at 2:30 p.m. followed by a 5 p.m. game against #21/25 Ole Miss. The weekend continues with a pair of games Saturday against #15/16 Kentucky and Missouri State. NC State concludes the weekend against Mississippi State Sunday at 12 p.m.
Live streams for all games will be available on the NFCA YouTube channel.
NFCA Leadoff Classic Schedule
Feb. 7 #8/7 Minnesota vs. NC State 2:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 NC State vs. #21/25 Ole Miss 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 8 NC State vs. #15/16 Kentucky 10:00 a.m.
Feb. 8 Missouri State vs. NC State 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 NC State vs. RV Mississippi State 12:00 p.m.
QUICK HITS
SERIES HISTORY
This weekend marks the first ever meeting for the Wolfpack against both Ole Miss and Missouri State. NC State is 1-2 all-time against Minnesota, with the teams last meeting each other in 2017. The Wolfpack's lone win over Minnesota came in 2006. The series is tied, 1-1, between NC State and Kentucky as the programs met twice in 2012. NC State is 2-2 all-time against Mississippi, last playing them in 2010.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, Minnesota returns four NFCA All-Region honorees, including All-American and 2019 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in Amber Fiser. Fiser finished the 2019 season with a 31-9 record and a 1.27 ERA while ranking fifth in the nation with 339 strikeouts. The team also returns NFCA Top-3 Freshman of the Year finalist in Natalie DenHartog.
Ole Miss made its second-ever trip to an NCAA Super Regional last season and despite graduating All-American Kylen Becker, the Rebels will not be without talent. Welcoming a class of six incoming freshman, Ole Miss also returns Tate Whitley who earned SEC All-Freshman honors last season and SEC All-Defensive Team member Kaylee Horton. The Rebels were picked ninth in the Preseason SEC Coaches poll.
Kentucky lost a stacked senior class last season with five players, including NFCA National Player of the Year Abbey Cheek, however the Wildcats will look to not miss a beat as they were picked fourth in the Preseason SEC poll. Additionally, Kentucky returns every pitcher from its 2019 rotation and Preseason All-SEC selection, Alex Martens.
Missouri State, picked fourth in its preseason poll, returns eight position starters and all of its pitching from last season. In 2019, the Bears recorded their second-straight 30+ win season and return NFCA All-Region pitcher Steffany Dickerson who went 20-11 last season.
Mississippi State enters its first season under head coach Samantha Ricketts. Despite being picked last in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Bulldogs return two of the most prolific hitters in the country in Mia Davidson and Fa Leilu who were both All-Americans in 2019. Davidson was a top-10 finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year while Leilua led the SEC with a .387 batting average.
EXPERIENCED LINEUP
Despite losing seven letterwinners from the 2019 squad, NC State returns a majority of its offensive and pitching production from a year ago including 85.5% of innings pitched, 87% of home runs and 82% of runs batted in. Additionally, the team loses just one starter in the field. All-ACC performer, Sam Russ, returns for NC State after leading the team with a .326 batting average and .445 on-base percentage in addition to homeruns and RBI leader, Brigette Nordberg. Returners Devin Wallace and Sydney Nester will lead the Pack in the circle.
NC State also brought the addition of four transfers to its 2020 roster. Tatyana Forbes joins the Wolfpack after playing two seasons at Coastal Carolina and a season at FIU. Sam Sack played her first two seasons at Coastal Carolina before joining the Wolfpack while Carson Shaner was at UNCW. Two-time Conference Pitcher of the Year, Abby Trahan, will redshirt the 2020 season as a part of the NC State team.
UP NEXT
NC State opens its 38-game home schedule next weekend, Feb. 14-16, as a host for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Wolfpack will face off against Ohio State and Illinois, while fellow ACC school Notre Dame will also be in attendance.
Single-game and season tickets for the 2020 season are still available at GoPack.com/BuyTickets.
NC State opens the season with a matchup against 2019 Women's College World Series participant, #8/7 Minnesota Friday at 2:30 p.m. followed by a 5 p.m. game against #21/25 Ole Miss. The weekend continues with a pair of games Saturday against #15/16 Kentucky and Missouri State. NC State concludes the weekend against Mississippi State Sunday at 12 p.m.
Live streams for all games will be available on the NFCA YouTube channel.
NFCA Leadoff Classic Schedule
Feb. 7 #8/7 Minnesota vs. NC State 2:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 NC State vs. #21/25 Ole Miss 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 8 NC State vs. #15/16 Kentucky 10:00 a.m.
Feb. 8 Missouri State vs. NC State 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 NC State vs. RV Mississippi State 12:00 p.m.
QUICK HITS
- NC State is 9-7 all-time in season openers and 5-3 when opening its season in the state of Florida.
- This is the fifth-consecutive season the Wolfpack has opened in the state of Florida.
- Both junior Sam Russ and senior Brigette Nordberg carry a 12 game on-base streak from last season. Russ also carries a nine-game hitting streak.
SERIES HISTORY
This weekend marks the first ever meeting for the Wolfpack against both Ole Miss and Missouri State. NC State is 1-2 all-time against Minnesota, with the teams last meeting each other in 2017. The Wolfpack's lone win over Minnesota came in 2006. The series is tied, 1-1, between NC State and Kentucky as the programs met twice in 2012. NC State is 2-2 all-time against Mississippi, last playing them in 2010.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, Minnesota returns four NFCA All-Region honorees, including All-American and 2019 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year in Amber Fiser. Fiser finished the 2019 season with a 31-9 record and a 1.27 ERA while ranking fifth in the nation with 339 strikeouts. The team also returns NFCA Top-3 Freshman of the Year finalist in Natalie DenHartog.
Ole Miss made its second-ever trip to an NCAA Super Regional last season and despite graduating All-American Kylen Becker, the Rebels will not be without talent. Welcoming a class of six incoming freshman, Ole Miss also returns Tate Whitley who earned SEC All-Freshman honors last season and SEC All-Defensive Team member Kaylee Horton. The Rebels were picked ninth in the Preseason SEC Coaches poll.
Kentucky lost a stacked senior class last season with five players, including NFCA National Player of the Year Abbey Cheek, however the Wildcats will look to not miss a beat as they were picked fourth in the Preseason SEC poll. Additionally, Kentucky returns every pitcher from its 2019 rotation and Preseason All-SEC selection, Alex Martens.
Missouri State, picked fourth in its preseason poll, returns eight position starters and all of its pitching from last season. In 2019, the Bears recorded their second-straight 30+ win season and return NFCA All-Region pitcher Steffany Dickerson who went 20-11 last season.
Mississippi State enters its first season under head coach Samantha Ricketts. Despite being picked last in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Bulldogs return two of the most prolific hitters in the country in Mia Davidson and Fa Leilu who were both All-Americans in 2019. Davidson was a top-10 finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year while Leilua led the SEC with a .387 batting average.
EXPERIENCED LINEUP
Despite losing seven letterwinners from the 2019 squad, NC State returns a majority of its offensive and pitching production from a year ago including 85.5% of innings pitched, 87% of home runs and 82% of runs batted in. Additionally, the team loses just one starter in the field. All-ACC performer, Sam Russ, returns for NC State after leading the team with a .326 batting average and .445 on-base percentage in addition to homeruns and RBI leader, Brigette Nordberg. Returners Devin Wallace and Sydney Nester will lead the Pack in the circle.
NC State also brought the addition of four transfers to its 2020 roster. Tatyana Forbes joins the Wolfpack after playing two seasons at Coastal Carolina and a season at FIU. Sam Sack played her first two seasons at Coastal Carolina before joining the Wolfpack while Carson Shaner was at UNCW. Two-time Conference Pitcher of the Year, Abby Trahan, will redshirt the 2020 season as a part of the NC State team.
UP NEXT
NC State opens its 38-game home schedule next weekend, Feb. 14-16, as a host for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Wolfpack will face off against Ohio State and Illinois, while fellow ACC school Notre Dame will also be in attendance.
Single-game and season tickets for the 2020 season are still available at GoPack.com/BuyTickets.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
ULT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball#BehindThe20 with former Pack Stars Abbie Sims and Renada Davis
Wednesday, April 24
Softball: Players Presser (2/15)
Thursday, February 15
Softball: Coach Leftwich Presser (2/15)
Thursday, February 15
EmpowHER with Aisha Weixlmann #Shorts #NCState #GoPack
Monday, October 16