jermaine Hudson
The NC State softball team celebrates a home run hit by junior infielder Kaylee Lambrecht during the game against UNC-Chapel Hill at Dail Softball Stadium on Saturday, April 23, 2023. NC State lost to Chapel Hill 4-2.
NC State softball is looking to bounce back in 2024 after a tumultuous 2023 season that featured its worst record since 2017. The Pack will also have a new head coach leading the charge after its previous one was fired in the middle of last season.
New head coach Lindsay Leftwich was named the fourth head coach in Wolfpack softball history last summer and brings a strong resume to Raleigh. Before joining NC State, Leftwich was an assistant coach for LSU, where she spent 12 years establishing the Tigers as a softball powerhouse.
The Wolfpack already has five games under its belt with a 2-3 record after competing in the NFCA Leadoff Classic this past weekend. With the season underway, let’s take a look at the Pack’s roster and schedule.
Returning players
Despite a coaching change, the Pack retained six out of the eight players who averaged two plate appearances a game last season and participated in at least 75% of the Pack’s games. NC State’s best hitter returns in the form of junior infielder Hannah Goodwin. Last season, Goodwin led the team in most offensive categories including batting average, OPS, hits and slugging percentage.
Another key returner is sophomore right-handed pitcher and utility player Madison Inscoe who led the team in ERA, WHIP, wins and innings pitched. The Pack will look to rely on Inscoe again this season, but is also bringing back redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Aisha Weixlmann and sophomore right-handed pitcher Rylee Wyman.
With the Wolfpack returning most of its pitching, it’s important it retained sophomore catcher Amanda Hasler. The backstop has been reliable for her pitchers and was second on the team in RBIs and third in home runs last season.
Newcomers
As part of the 2024 recruiting class, NC State welcomes six freshmen to its roster. The class includes two pitchers, a third baseman, two infielders/outfielders and an outfielder.
One of the freshmen is infielder/outfielder Tori Ensley, who is the younger sister of junior infielder Taylor Ensley. Tori Ensley was the 2022 District Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year while breaking her school’s record for most home runs in a season.
In addition to Ensley, the Wolfpack added to its arm barn with freshman right-handed pitcher Carly Maxton. Maxton was ranked in the top 100 by Extra Innings Softball in 2020 and 2022 while also being a member of the 2022 Kansas City Top Gun 18U National Tournament champion.
Tournaments
With one tournament already out of the way, NC State will play in three more throughout the season. The Pack is set to compete in the Marucci Classic from Feb. 16-18 against North Dakota State, Campbell, Elon and UConn.
Next up, the red-and-white will host the Wolfpack Classic from Feb. 23-25 against Iona, Albany, Cleveland State and Appalachian State. It will then be a part of the Garnet & Black Invitational March 15-17 vs. Northwestern, Michigan State, Minnesota and South Carolina.
NC State also will look to qualify for the ACC tournament held in Durham from May 8-11 after missing out on the tournament last season.
Conference slate
The Pack’s mettle will be tested early as it hits the road for its first ACC series against No. 7 Clemson from March 1-3. The Tigers won the lone series between these squads last season, but the Wolfpack got the last laugh with a 7-5 win in the final game.
Two weeks later, NC State travels to Tallahassee, Florida to take on the No. 4 Florida State Seminoles from March 28-30. The Pack has a rough history against the Seminoles, having just won four games in Florida since the series started in 2004. Florida State has also won the last five matchups in the series, proving why it’s one of the best softball programs in the country.
For one of its final ACC series of the season, the Pack will host the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils from April 26-28. Since the series started in 2018, the Wolfpack has won just two games and the Blue Devils are currently riding an eight-game win streak in the series.
To put last season behind it, NC State will have to do a much better job of bringing its game on the road as last season it won just one game away from home. Series against top-10 teams like Clemson and Florida State on the road will go a long way in determining if the Pack can compete with the best.