Friday, February 10
Boca Raton, Fla. (FAU Softball Stadium)
3:45 P.M.
NC State
vs
Bethune-Cookman
Softball Begins 2017 Season At FAU Kickoff Classic
2/9/2017 11:09:00 AM | Softball
Wolfpack to face five teams in three-day tournament
RALEIGH – The NC State softball team is set to begin its 2017 season Friday at the Florida Atlantic Kickoff Classic in Boca Raton, Fla., at the FAU Softball Complex.
With five games slated for the weekend tournament, the Wolfpack will face its first of nine non-conference opponents in the top 25 or receiving votes in the preseason national poll (No. 23/23 Florida Atlantic) and will matchup with Bethune-Cookman for the first time in program history.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Feb. 10: NC State vs. Bethune-Cookman @ 3:45 p.m.
Feb. 10: NC State vs. #23/23 Florida Atlantic @ 6 p.m.
Feb. 11: NC State vs. Troy @ 11:15 a.m.
Feb. 11: NC State vs. Michigan State @ 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 12: NC State vs. Boston @ 9 a.m.
2016 SEASON RECAP
NC State collected 23 wins in 2016, highlighted by ranked victories over California and Notre Dame, and head coach Shawn Rychcik reached the 400-win plateau last season in the Pack's 5-4 win at Syracuse.
Senior Molly Hutchison garnered Second Team All-ACC and ACC All-Academic Team honors. Classmate Tyler Ross earned Second Team All-Southeast Region honors after breaking the program record with 55 runs scored and 27 stolen bases in a single season and hitting 18 home runs.
2017 ROSTER
Both Hutchison and Ross return to this year's squad as the top hitters in the Pack's lineup, along with four other members who earned a start in NC State's batting order last season – Cheyenne Balzer, Alyssa Compton, Brittany Nimmo and Macauley Prickett.
Harli Hubbard and Nimmo will return to the circle, posting five wins apiece last season, while freshman Peyton Silverman will join the Pack's pitching staff.
Along with Silverman, the Pack is slated to showcase newcomers Jade Caraway and Haley Finn this weekend. Both have strong high school resumes, as Caraway will look to provide depth in the outfield and Finn in the infield.
Known for her power at the plate, Ross was named a Preseason Honorable Mention All-American by Fastpitch News and checked in at No. 30 on their Preseason Top 50 Hitters list.
SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN
After posting a 21-32 record last year, Bethune-Cookman returns Annie Bakenhus and Iesha Waters to its lineup in 2017, who turned in batting averages of .368 and .336, in respective order, last season. Bakenhus started 53 games and Waters made 51 starts.
The Wildcats will see several new faces this season, as head coach Laura Watten added 10 freshmen to the roster after losing only three seniors. Sunday will mark the first time the Pack and Wildcats have met in program history.
SCOUTING FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Florida Atlantic marks the first of nine non-conference opponents for the Pack that are in the top 25 or receiving votes for the national poll, checking in at No. 23. The Owls hold a two-year streak of earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Conference USA Championship last year. The title marked the 11th in program history and the NCAA appearance was the ninth in school history.
In the preseason, pitcher Kylee Hanson was named to USA Softball's Player of the Year Watch List after turning in a nation-best 0.76 ERA and 28-5 record in 2016. She was picked as C-USA's Preseason Pitcher of the Year and the Owls were picked first in the league.
In 2016 Florida Atlantic compiled a 51-9 record and finished 28th in the final RPI, returning 17 from last year's squad. After turning in a strong junior season, Hanson was named an NFCA All-American and C-USA's Female Athlete of the Year.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State finished last season with a 27-28 ledger and returns five of its six top hitters from last year's lineup. All of them posted a batting average of .300 or higher in 2016. Three of those five additionally hit five or more home runs last season.
Kristine Zalewski will be the top returning pitcher for Michigan State, as she led her team as well as the Big Ten in appearances (44) with a team-high 205.1 innings pitched. Last season she compiled a 3.41 ERA and started 29 games.
SCOUTING TROY
The Trojans earned 31 wins last year after advancing to the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament and finished at No. 72 in last year's final RPI.
Troy will be without their top two hitters from last season, Kate Benton and Hannah Day, due to graduation. Both collected NFCA All-Region and All-Sun Belt honors after tuning in batting averages of .411 and .343, respectively. The Trojans also graduated their top pitcher from a season ago, Ashley Rainey, who made 35 appearances and earned 16 wins while compiling a 3.87 ERA.
The team returns juniors Carli Kayler and Erica Davis to its lineup, as the two were the third and fourth strongest hitters from 2016 and hit a combined 13 home runs. In the circle, sophomore Claire Graves will be the top returner after making 29 appearances and tallying seven wins last season.
SCOUTING BOSTON
Last season the Terriers won the Patriot League championship and reached the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in program history.
Boston returns its top six hitters from 2016, who all posted a batting average of .300 or higher, but have lost their top two pitchers from last season due to graduation. The Terriers' lineup is one with experience as an additional eight members of this year's squad made appearances at the plate last season, while the pitching staff welcomes two freshmen to its rotation.
Prior to Rychcik's stint with the Pack he was the head coach at Boston for eight years (2005-12).
With five games slated for the weekend tournament, the Wolfpack will face its first of nine non-conference opponents in the top 25 or receiving votes in the preseason national poll (No. 23/23 Florida Atlantic) and will matchup with Bethune-Cookman for the first time in program history.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Feb. 10: NC State vs. Bethune-Cookman @ 3:45 p.m.
Feb. 10: NC State vs. #23/23 Florida Atlantic @ 6 p.m.
Feb. 11: NC State vs. Troy @ 11:15 a.m.
Feb. 11: NC State vs. Michigan State @ 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 12: NC State vs. Boston @ 9 a.m.
2016 SEASON RECAP
NC State collected 23 wins in 2016, highlighted by ranked victories over California and Notre Dame, and head coach Shawn Rychcik reached the 400-win plateau last season in the Pack's 5-4 win at Syracuse.
Senior Molly Hutchison garnered Second Team All-ACC and ACC All-Academic Team honors. Classmate Tyler Ross earned Second Team All-Southeast Region honors after breaking the program record with 55 runs scored and 27 stolen bases in a single season and hitting 18 home runs.
2017 ROSTER
Both Hutchison and Ross return to this year's squad as the top hitters in the Pack's lineup, along with four other members who earned a start in NC State's batting order last season – Cheyenne Balzer, Alyssa Compton, Brittany Nimmo and Macauley Prickett.
Harli Hubbard and Nimmo will return to the circle, posting five wins apiece last season, while freshman Peyton Silverman will join the Pack's pitching staff.
Along with Silverman, the Pack is slated to showcase newcomers Jade Caraway and Haley Finn this weekend. Both have strong high school resumes, as Caraway will look to provide depth in the outfield and Finn in the infield.
Known for her power at the plate, Ross was named a Preseason Honorable Mention All-American by Fastpitch News and checked in at No. 30 on their Preseason Top 50 Hitters list.
SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN
After posting a 21-32 record last year, Bethune-Cookman returns Annie Bakenhus and Iesha Waters to its lineup in 2017, who turned in batting averages of .368 and .336, in respective order, last season. Bakenhus started 53 games and Waters made 51 starts.
The Wildcats will see several new faces this season, as head coach Laura Watten added 10 freshmen to the roster after losing only three seniors. Sunday will mark the first time the Pack and Wildcats have met in program history.
SCOUTING FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Florida Atlantic marks the first of nine non-conference opponents for the Pack that are in the top 25 or receiving votes for the national poll, checking in at No. 23. The Owls hold a two-year streak of earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Conference USA Championship last year. The title marked the 11th in program history and the NCAA appearance was the ninth in school history.
In the preseason, pitcher Kylee Hanson was named to USA Softball's Player of the Year Watch List after turning in a nation-best 0.76 ERA and 28-5 record in 2016. She was picked as C-USA's Preseason Pitcher of the Year and the Owls were picked first in the league.
In 2016 Florida Atlantic compiled a 51-9 record and finished 28th in the final RPI, returning 17 from last year's squad. After turning in a strong junior season, Hanson was named an NFCA All-American and C-USA's Female Athlete of the Year.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State finished last season with a 27-28 ledger and returns five of its six top hitters from last year's lineup. All of them posted a batting average of .300 or higher in 2016. Three of those five additionally hit five or more home runs last season.
Kristine Zalewski will be the top returning pitcher for Michigan State, as she led her team as well as the Big Ten in appearances (44) with a team-high 205.1 innings pitched. Last season she compiled a 3.41 ERA and started 29 games.
SCOUTING TROY
The Trojans earned 31 wins last year after advancing to the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament and finished at No. 72 in last year's final RPI.
Troy will be without their top two hitters from last season, Kate Benton and Hannah Day, due to graduation. Both collected NFCA All-Region and All-Sun Belt honors after tuning in batting averages of .411 and .343, respectively. The Trojans also graduated their top pitcher from a season ago, Ashley Rainey, who made 35 appearances and earned 16 wins while compiling a 3.87 ERA.
The team returns juniors Carli Kayler and Erica Davis to its lineup, as the two were the third and fourth strongest hitters from 2016 and hit a combined 13 home runs. In the circle, sophomore Claire Graves will be the top returner after making 29 appearances and tallying seven wins last season.
SCOUTING BOSTON
Last season the Terriers won the Patriot League championship and reached the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in program history.
Boston returns its top six hitters from 2016, who all posted a batting average of .300 or higher, but have lost their top two pitchers from last season due to graduation. The Terriers' lineup is one with experience as an additional eight members of this year's squad made appearances at the plate last season, while the pitching staff welcomes two freshmen to its rotation.
Prior to Rychcik's stint with the Pack he was the head coach at Boston for eight years (2005-12).
Players Mentioned
C/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
P
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C/1B
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P/UT
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OF
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OF
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P
/ Softball#BehindThe20 with former Pack Stars Abbie Sims and Renada Davis
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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