Wolfpack to Open Season at Tiger Classic Hosted by #16/13 LSU

RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State softball team is scheduled to begin the 2026 campaign on Thursday, feb. 5 at the Tiger Classic hosted by No. 16/13 LSU.

The Pack will play its season opener against Lamar at 4:30pm on ESPN+ before facing the host at 7pm on SECN+. The Wolfpack will face the Tigers again on Friday (6:30pm) before taking on Illinois (11am) and Nevada (1:30pm) on Saturday.

The Series History with Each Opponent

Lamar: First ever meeting between the two programs
LSU: The Tigers lead the series 6-1, with the Pack's lone win coming in 2021 in Raleigh
Illinois: NC State leads the series 2-1, having won the most recent meeting in 2025, 4-0
Nevada: First ever meeting between the two programs

A Win Would (in game one)...

be the first of the 2026 campaign
be the first season opener won in the state of Louisiana in program history
be the 13rd season opener won in program history
be the 56th under head coach Lindsay Leftwich
be the 623rd in program history

Homecoming for Lefty

The Pack will face LSU in its second and third games of the 2026 campaign. It will be the first time head coach Lindsay Leftwich coaches against the school she spent a dozen seasons at.
Prior to becoming the leader of the Pack in June of 2022, Leftwich was Beth Torina's top assistant, having worked with her at FIU before their stint at LSU. While calling Baton Rouge home, Leftwich assisted the Tigers to four College World Series, including two finals.
Bonus: it is also a homecoming for senior Maia Townsend who spent the last three years of her career with the Tigers.

Wolfpack to Open Season at Tiger Classic Hosted by #16/13 LSU

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Players Mentioned

Maia Townsend

North Carolina State University Athletics

Wolfpack to Open Season at Tiger Classic Hosted by #16/13 LSU

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Players Mentioned

Maia Townsend

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