NC State softball looks to have a busy weekend, as the team will play five games in three days at the College of Charleston tournament in South Carolina. The Pack is entering the tournament following a 4-0 shutout loss to Valparaiso, putting its overall record at 11-7 on the season.That loss broke an eight-game winning streak that started on Feb. 24 with a 2-1 win against UMBC. The Pack will try and regain its momentum in Charleston, as five wins would have the team sitting in great position with ACC play approaching.
Friday, March 8
The Wolfpack will open play against the College of Marist, a private college situated in New York. The Red Foxes have the best winning percentage of the teams the Pack will face in Charleston. Marist’s record sits at 3-3 on the year, but having only played six games also makes them the most unproven. The Red Foxes will look to break a three-game losing streak against the Pack when the two teams meet at 10 a.m.
NC State will not have much time to rest, since right after the conclusion of the Marist game, the Wolfpack will take on Rhode Island at 12:15 p.m. The Rams will also be looking to break a losing streak of their own, as they have not won a game since Feb. 16. Losing six games in a row, Rhode Island will be a team desperate for a win. With the Rams having fresh legs by playing their first game against the Pack, this will be one of the trickier games NC State will play this weekend.
Saturday, March 9
The Wolfpack will open play on Saturday against the Bryant Bulldogs at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs come into the tournament with a 0-9 record, batting an abysmal .173 with only eight runs scored in nine games. This will be one of the Pack’s easier games not just of the tournament, but of the season. The game should fare as a nice warm-up for the team, as it takes on another opponent that night.
After the conclusion of the Bryant game, the Pack will face the College of Charleston around 8:15 p.m. The Cougars are arguably the best team the Pack will face during the weekend. Charleston will begin the weekend with an 8-9 record but will be using its home-field advantage throughout the course of the tournament. With six of their wins coming at home, the Cougars will be looking not only to compete, but to finish the tournament with a winning record. The winner of this game will most likely win the tournament, making this matchup arguably the most important for the Pack.
Sunday, March 10
NC State concludes the tournament with a 2:30 p.m. game against Youngstown State. Like Bryant, the Penguins have also failed to pick up a win this year. Batting an average of .166, the year has not started off the way Youngstown State wanted. The Penguins will be hungry for their first win coming into Charleston, so the Pack will have to come prepared as they wrap up the weekend.
Junior outfielder Angie Rizzi relays the ball back to the infield on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019 at Dail Softball Stadium. Rizzi went 0-2 with one walk in the Wolfpack’s 6-3 loss to Wisconsin.
