North Carolina State University Athletics
Softball Blanks Mercer for Historic First Win
2/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 14, 2004
Raleigh, N.C. - After managing a combined four hits on Friday in the Triangle Classic against Radford and Louisville, NC State doubled that number with eight hits in an 8-0 five inning win over Mercer. The win was the first in school history, as the program gets rolling in the inaugural season of 2004 by competing in the Triangle Classic at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. Abbie Sims (1-1) pitched a two-hit shutout for the win, striking out eight batters and allowing only two walks in five innings of work.
Sims got more than enough run support in the first inning, as the Wolfpack jumped out with a seven run inning. Heather Gelbard doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third as Sims singled to right field. Mercer pitcher Kaelin Farrington gave up back-to-back walks to Shaina Ervin and Jennifer Patterson, with Patterson garnering the first RBI in school history as Gelbard was forced home. Miranda Ervin doubled to right-center field, driving in two more Wolfpack runs. Jennifer Chamberlin hit an RBI double to make the score 4-0, and after a Lee Hasper single, two more runs crossed the plate as Rene? LaCroix hit a two RBI single.
LaCroix would steal second, before Gelbard walked, in her second plate appearance of the inning, to load the bases. Caroline Blount grounded out to first base for an RBI, scoring Hasper and pushing the Wolfpack lead to 7-0.
Sims fouled out to end the inning as NC State sent 12 batters to the plate, gathering six hits and three walks.
Sims would need only run run of support against Mercer to pick up the program's first win, as she mowed down eight batters, including a string of four out of five batters over the fourth and fifth inning.
The Wolfpack would add the eight and final run in the bottom of the fourth, as Gelbard picked up her second double of the game. She would later score on a RBI groundout by Shaina Ervin.Christine Mattice was one of the few bright spots for Mercer, as she pitched three innings, allowing only one run and striking out a batter after coming in on relief for Farrington. Mattice collected one of the hits for Mercer as well, going 1-1 with a single in the fifth.
