Wolfpack Sweeps Day Two at Hoo's Who Tournament

March 27, 2004

NC State improved to 19-17 on the season and posted a 3-1 mark in the Hoo's Who Tournament as it completed pool play. NC State has won 12 of its last 16 games, defeating Seton Hall (15-6) and Binghamton (7-7-1) on Saturday, March 27 at The Park in Charlottesville, Va. Championship Sunday will commence at 10:00 am on Sunday, as NC State will go into the final day as the No. 2 seed behind tournament host Virginia.

"Our mistakes didn't hurt us today and we were able to overcome those problems," head coach Lisa Navas said. "Our girls went out and finished the games to pick up two big wins for us today as we head into championship play."

The Wolfpack defeated Seton Hall to win its 18th game of the year in the early game of pool play. Despite a steady drizzle and cool temperatures, NC State won 4-3 behind the pitching of Abbie Sims, who won her 13th game of the year. Sims struck out four and scattered six hits while giving up no earned runs.

NC State jumped on the board early, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Allison Cuculich reached on an error with one out, and moved to second on a Miranda Ervin single up the middle. Sherry Lail pinch ran for Cuculich, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch by Pirates starter Jessica Jones. After Jen Chamberlin fouled out, Shaina Ervin roped a single into right centerfield on a full count, scoring Lail and Miranda Ervin for a 2-0 NC State lead.

Chamberlin gave the Wolfpack a three run lead with her team leading seventh homerun of the year, a shot to dead center field with two outs in the third inning.

The lead would hold until the top of the sixth, as Sims pitched a one hitter into the sixth inning before allowing four hits and a three-run homerun by Lindsay Trottier to tie the game at 3-3.

The Wolfpack would score the go ahead run in the bottom of the sixth, answering when Miranda Ervin doubled to right center to lead off the inning. Beth Poore came in to run and Chamberlin grounded out to advance Poore to third. Poore came around to score on a wild pitch from relief pitcher Meyer to give NC State a 4-3 lead and the win over Seton Hall.

In the second game of the day against Binghamton, NC State scored two early runs in the top of the first after Cuculich walked with one out. With two outs, Chamberlin reached on an error and advanced to second, and Cuculich moved to third. Shaina Ervin helped her own cause slicing a single through the left side to score a pair of runs and give NC State a 2-0 lead.

The Bearcats would threaten in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with one out off of a fielder's choice and an error. Shaina Ervin struckout the next batter and with two outs and induced a groundout back to the circle to end the threat.

Binghamton got on the board in the bottom of the third, scoring a run on an RBI single by Nicole Vitello, cutting the Wolfpack lead to 2-1.

NC State would bump the lead back to two in the top of the sixth, going up 3-1. Miranda Ervin doubled to center field, and Shaina Ervin brought in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Binghamton would answer off of Shaina Ervin, getting two runs on two hits. Sims came in on relief, inheriting runners on second and third with one out. She would close out the inning with a strikeout and a groundout, and would stay on to pick up the win as NC State scored twice in the seventh.

Cuculich earned an RBI by drawing a 1-out bases loaded walk, and Miranda Ervin singled in another run to give NC State a 5-3 lead.

Sims would close out the game for the win, her second of the day and 14th on the season by pitching one and 2/3 innings , striking out three and allowing one hit and a walk.

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Team Stats

Miranda Ervin

Jennifer Chamberlin

Shaina Ervin

Abbie Sims