Whether you spent spring break basking in the rays of the sun or if the light of your computer screen kept you warm for the week, you may have missed some of the highlights from NC State Athletics. The week proved to be an interesting one for Wolfpack sports, including the conclusion of one sport’s dismal season, while many others shifted into high gear as they continue on into the spring.
The action on March 4 included baseball’s trip to the USA Baseball Complex in Cary. The Wolfpack lost 9-2 against former ACC rival Maryland.
The softball team faced Fordham at home. The loss had State in the lead until the seventh inning, when the Rams scored seven runs and would go on to win 8-7. Later that day, the Wolfpack played Lehigh, winning 7-6 in a contest that left the visiting Mountain Hawks scoreless in all but one inning.
On March 5, women’s tennis lost 5-2 to Florida State in Tallahassee. Senior Martina Frantova and Freshman Anna Rogers both won on their own in singles and as a pair in doubles for the Wolfpack’s only victories.
Softball took on Fordham for a second time at home in their 16-2 loss, their 15th loss this season. The Rams managed 12 runs in the first four innings, leaving NC State trailing throughout.
Baseball shutout UMass Lowell in an 8-0 victory at home, as the visiting River Hawks failed to complete an extra-base hit through all nine innings. Freshman Dalton Feeney, junior Brian Brown and redshirt sophomore Tim Naughton led the pitching effort in the Wolfpack’s second shutout of the season.
On March 6, the baseball team returned to Doak Field and suffered a 9-8 loss to Western Carolina. Despite a late streak of four unanswered runs, the Pack was unable to match the Catamounts’ nine that came earlier in the game.
March 7 marked the end of the Mark Gottfried era for NC State men’s basketball, and the likely end of freshman Dennis Smith Jr.’s tenure as a collegiate athlete. The team traveled to Brooklyn, New York for the ACC Tournament, and a harsh loss to Clemson in the first game of the first round closed the door on their turbulent season.
Gottfried stated in multiple pregame interviews that he and the team “packed for the week” intending to win several games, but Clemson’s graduate Jaron Blossomgame and the Tiger defense proved an overnight bag would have done just fine. The team was also plagued by poor shooting, play execution and a manifold of turnovers. Smith’s leadership made an appearance in the second half, but was too-little and too-late to save the season, leaving national analysts to question the value of his potential NBA Draft stock.
Later the same day, Pack softball shut out George Mason in Fairfax, Virginia. The game was played through on-and-off rain, but the Wolfpack held steadfast as it rallied midway through the contest to win, 4-0. State added two home runs to bring its season total to 10.
March 8 saw a series of victories across the NC State Athletics programs.
The NC State women’s tennis team defeated the visiting Michigan State, 6-1. The assertive win moves the team to 9-6 on the season so far.
Baseball traveled to UNC-Wilmington where it picked up an 8-5 win. An early four-run lead for the Wolfpack left the Seahawks trailing throughout the game despite their multiple late home runs.
Men’s tennis enjoyed their trip to paradise this season, featuring a dominant 6-1 win over Hawaii. The team swept the Rainbow Warriors in singles, ensuring its first victory in a two-part series in Honolulu.
Pack swimming and diving sent five athletes to the 2017 NCAA Zone B Diving Championships at Auburn. Freshman James Bradyachieved sixth place in the platform diving contest, a strong finish in a competitive diving zone that ultimately allotted Brady a spot on the NC State roster.
No NC State teams competed Thursday, but by Friday the Pack was back in action.
Baseball opened ACC play with a 6-4 loss to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, breaking a six-game winning streak against the Demon Deacons in the all-time series. The Wolfpack remained competitive throughout all nine innings, but were unable to score on a crucial bases-loaded play in the sixth inning to take the lead and would not recover.
Gymnastics set a new season high with a score of 196.15 at home versus Towson. The team won every individual rotation, setting season highs on bars and beam as well. The Wolfpack had 13 podium finishes along with 18 in the top-five.
Men’s tennis took on Hawaii for a second time, sweeping its opponent in a 7-0 victory. NC State picked up an additional doubles win from their previous contest to take the doubles point as well. The team improves their season record to 9-6 as they move into conference play.
Softball split a doubleheader with Syracuse in Raleigh, winning the first 3-0 and dropping the second 11-5. Freshman Peyton Silverman pitched her second straight shutout in the first game, and NC State led half of the second until Syracuse ran away with the score in the fifth inning.
On Saturday, softball’s junior outfielder Macauley Prickett hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh to secure the Wolfpack win against Syracuse and the first ACC series of the season.
The Wolfpack track and field team sent four athletes to College Station, Texas to compete in the NCAA Championships. Redshirt senior Megan Moye became the first woman in NC State history to earn All-America honors in the mile twice in her career and senior Erica Kemp became a three-time All-American on the track after competing in the 5,000m final. Redshirt junior Joshua Davis threw a lifetime-best in the weight throw to attain his second All-America honors and redshirt sophomore Rachel Koon garnered her second All-American status in the 3,000m.
Women’s golf traveled to Kapolei, Hawaii and defeated the Rainbow Wahine of Hawaii by 17 strokes.
Junior Caitlyn Ford and senior Lucas Kozeniesky represented the NC State rifle team at the NCAA Championships at Ohio State. Both Ford and Kozeniesky were selected to compete for the second-consecutive win.
On Sunday, the gymnastics team placed second in a quad meet at George Washington with a score of 194.825, its highest road score of the season. In the team’s final contest of the season, it fell to George Washington, who scored a 196.5, but topped Yale and Stanford, who scored 194.575 and 193.275, respectively.
This year’s spring break concluded with 11 wins for Wolfpack team sports, and several individual honors and milestones.
Sean Adler, a senior pitcher, winds up for a pitch against Austin Peay on Feb. 24 in Doak Field. The Wolfpack beat the Governors 9-3, making this their third win this season.
