NC State Wins Bronze Championship at Winthrop Ringor Invitational

Sunday, March 14

Rock Hill, S.C.

1:00 PM

NC State

10-13

Akron - Winthrop Tournament

11-5

NC State

Akron

Head coach Lisa Navas led her Wolfpack to the Bronze Championship at the Winthrop Invitational.

NC State Wins Bronze Championship at Winthrop Ringor Invitational

3/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 14, 2004

Box Score

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Abbie Sims struck out 10 batters and allowed nine hits in seven innings as she improved to 3-0 in the Winthrop Ringor Invitational, and has now won six straight starts, as NC State won 8-5 over Akron. With the win, the Wolfpack captured the Bronze Championship as one of four teams to win a title at the tournament. NC State was the No. 3 seed in its pool, but was the only team to win a championship on Sunday.

Jen Chamberlin went 2-4 with three RBIs, and Renee' LaCroix hit a three-run homerun, her first career longball, as the Wolfpack pounded out 11 hits and eight runs in winning three straight games to end the tournament.

Akron scored first in the contest, as Becky Stern led off with a single to second, and advanced to second on a successful sacrifice bunt by Sara Zilles. Kelly Quigley hit s single to centerfield to score Stern and give the Zips and early 1-0 lead.

The Wolfpack took the lead in the fourth, getting two runs off of two hits and a walk. Miranda Ervin found her self in an 0-2 hole, then fouled off a half dozen pitches before drawing a walk in a marathon at bat. With two outs, Shaina Ervin hit a towering double to left field, bringing home pinch runner Moffatt Steele for the tying run. Allison Cuculich singled to left, advancing Ervin to third. The throw came home from left field, and it got by the catcher, allowing Shaina Ervin to score from third, giving NC State a 2-1 lead.

The lead swelled to 6-1 in the fifth, when Sims doubled and was pinch ran for by Stacee Powell. Chamberlin singled down the left field line to bring in Powell, and Renee' LaCroix hit a three-run shot to deep centerfield.

Akron rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fifth, before two more Wolfpack runs pushed the lead back to 8-3. The Zips loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs and scored two runs to make the score 8-5. With two outs, Heather Gelbard bobbled a ground ball, but right fielder Carolina Blount picked it up and fired home to get the runner as Miranda Ervin made the final out at home, preserving the championship.

The Charlotte 49ers will come to Raleigh for a doubleheader on Tuesday, and Marshall will travel to Raleigh as well for twin bill on Wednesday.