Softball Set to Open Season at Leadoff Classic

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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The NC State softball team is set to open its 2024 campaign at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Pack will play five games in three days with matchups against opponents from the Big Ten, SEC, MVC, C-USA, and Big East.

Play begins Friday at 1 p.m. and will be streamed on the GameChanger App.

A Win ...

Would mark the 12th season-opening win in program history (11-9)
Would be the eight season opener won in Florida (7-3)
Would be the first win for first-year head coach Lindsay Leftwich (0-0)
Would be the first win of the Leftwich Era

Noting the Pack

2024 marks the first season under the leadership of first-time head coach Lindsay Leftwich. She came to NC State after spending the last 12 seasons as the top assistant at LSU under Beth Torina.
NC State returns 18 players from its 2023 campaign, including infielder Hannah Goodwin who led the team with a .359 batting average a year ago.
The Pack welcomed six newcomers over the summer, including five freshmen and a transfer.
The Pack is 11-9 in season openers and 7-3 when opening the season in the state of Florida. NC State has opened the season somewhere in Florida in six of the last eight seasons.
Tenacious - the best word to describe the 2024 squad. They accept any challenge thrown their way, no matter how difficult it proves to be. Those who were here in 2023 dealt with some interesting circumstances, but stuck together as they knew the future would bring brighter days.

Series History with Iowa (Tied 2-2)

Friday marks the fifth meeting between NC State and Iowa. The two met for the first time during the 2010 campaign and met most recently during the 2023 season.
When meeting at a neutral site, the two teams are tied 1-1.
The Pack won the last meeting in April of 2023 after a single by Madison Inscoe in the eighth inning brought MaKayla Marbury and Rebecca Murray home.
The Pack has defeated the Hawkeyes by as few as one run and at most two.

Series History with Missouri (Tigers Lead 2-1)

Friday will mark just the fourth meeting between NC State and Missouri. The first meeting occurred in just the third season of the Wolfpack program's existence (2006).
NC State won the inaugural meeting in 2006, defeating then No. 18 Mizzou 6-0.
The Tigers won the last two meetings (2015, 2016) by a total of 25 runs to end both games in a run rule.
In all three meetings, The Tigers have been ranked -- No. 18, 21, and 17.

Series History with Missouri State (NC State Leads 1-0)

Saturday will mark just the second meeting between NC State and Missouri State. The initial meeting in 2020 ended with the Wolfpack on top 7-5.

Series History with Western Kentucky (Tied 1-1)

Saturday will mark the third meeting between NC State and Western Kentucky.
The Lady Toppers won the initial meeting by two runs, but the Wolfpack won the last meeting 5-1.

Series History with St. John's (NC State Leads 4-0)

Sunday's meeting will mark the fifth between NC State and St. John's. The two met for the first time in the Pack's inaugural season as a program. All four meetings have been at neutral site locations, with three of the four occurring in March.
The Pack has defeated the Red Storm by as many as nine runs and as few as one run.

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Players Mentioned

Hannah Goodwin

Madison Inscoe

MaKayla Marbury

Rebecca Murray