NC State softball opened the 2025 season by splitting a doubleheader. After squeaking out a 3-2 win against Cal State Bakersfield, the Wolfpack faced No. 12/14 Georgia and suffered a 9-0 mercy-rule loss.
Against Cal State Bakersfield (0-2), the Wolfpack (1-1) barely generated any offense, with two of its three runs coming off walks with the bases loaded. The offense was worse against Georgia (2-0) as it only mustered three hits and no runs in five innings.
Three of NC State’s first four hitters against the Roadrunners reached base on a hit-by-pitch or a walk. The trend continued for junior catcher Hannah Church and freshman second baseman Kendall Simmers who each earned their first RBIs of the season after being walked. As a result, the Pack chased CSU starting pitcher Christal Lopez off the mound in the first inning.
The two runs on walks gave the Pack the lead but after it committed two errors in the top of the first, the Roadrunners cut the lead to one. CSU tied it up in the second inning after outfielder Faith Steffany tripled and was brought home with a single.
After the second inning, each pitcher held serve until the top of the seventh when senior right fielder Taylor Ensley launched one over the fence for her first home run of the year. Junior right-handed pitcher Rylee Wyman shut the door on the Roadrunners with a strikeout to close the contest.
Wyman played all seven innings, earning six strikeouts for the ninth complete game of her career. Junior center fielder Ellie Goins made it hard on Bakersfield pitcher Bailee Bustos, stealing two bases and recording a hit.
The Pack’s first test of the season came early against the No. 12/14 ranked Bulldogs and the result was one to forget. Thanks to two doubles, a single and a home run, NC State fell behind the 8-ball big time, trailing by seven after the first inning.
A double and home run in the fourth put the Pack down nine and gave it only one inning left to cut the lead or risk being mercy-ruled. With the game on the line, three of the Wolfpack’s four batters struck out swinging as the rest had to watch the game end early.
If there was one positive to take away from the 9-0 loss, it was that redshirt senior catcher Payden Bordeau returned to the field for the first time in 991 days due to injury. It was the first time she started behind the plate since she was at Georgia in 2022.
The Bulldogs put on full display the difference between a Super Regional team and one that failed to make its own conference tournament. Cal State Bakersfield went 5-46 in 2024 and even yet the Pack struggled.
The red-and-white will look to quickly rebound from opening day with another doubleheader on Friday against James Madison at 11:30 a.m. and then UCF at 4:30 p.m.
