Wolfpack Defeats Appalachian State 6-0 in Game Two

Monday, March 8

Walnut Creek, Raleigh, N.C.

1 p.m.

NC State

4-10

Appalachian State (Game 1)

6-8

Appalachian State

NC State

Jen Chamberlin hit her second homerun of the season in the win against App. State.

Wolfpack Defeats Appalachian State 6-0 in Game Two

3/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 8, 2004

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State defeated the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the second game of the doubleheader, as the two teams split at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, N.C. Abbie Sims struck out a NC State record 13 batters in a two-hit shutout, her second of the year, to win her fourth game of the season. The Wolfpack lost game 1, 5-2 on a late homerun to break a tie game in the seventh.

After allowing only a single to the Mountaineers' leadoff hitter, Sims (4-4) allowed only one more hit the rest of the way while striking out 13 batters, topping her previous school record of 12 set in her last outing against Charleston Southern. Sims pitched another outstanding game in getting her second shutout of the season, and she has 25 strikeouts to only three walks in her last two starts, both wins. The Wolfpack (5-10) scored six runs in the victory; two in each of the third, fifth and sixth innings.

The Wolfpack once again jumped on the Mountaineers early, getting two runs in the third inning when Jen Chamberlin hit her team leading second homerun of the year, a two-run shot to left as Lee Hasper drew a one out walk.

Sims worked herself out of a jam in the fifth inning, as Dawn Malone lead off the inning with a double to deep centerfield and Amber Handy was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with one out. She struck out Dawn Glover and got Diana Cook to flyout to right. Before the Malone double, Sims allowed only a leadoff single to start the game to Handy, and scattered three walks over the first five innings.

With a two-run lead held after the ASU fifth, Sims helped her own cause, belting a two-run shot deep over the left field wall for her first homerun of the year with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. NC State would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth for the final margin.

In game 1, NC State fell 5-2, getting a strong pitching performance from Shaina Ervin, but it wasn't enough as ASU hit a three-run homerun in the seventh to win 5-2.

NC State jumped on the board early, scoring two runs off of starter Marie Watson in the bottom of the first. Renee' LaCroix led off the game with a single up the middle, and Blount reached on a fielder's choice. After Abbie Sims singled off of Watson's leg to load the bases, the Mountaineers appeared close to ending the Wolfpack threat. After Miranda Ervin lined out to third and LaCroix was out at home on a fielder's choice by Jen Chamberlin, Watson faltered as Shaina Ervin hit a two RBI single to post NC State to a 2-0 lead.

Both teams would remain scoreless after Appalachian State tied it up with two in the top of the second until ASU put the winning runs on the board in the top of the seventh. Ervin was superb, retiring 12 of 13 batters between the third through the sixth inning, with only one baserunner reaching on a error in the fifth. She struck out six, allowing only two earned runs and five hits in taking the loss.

Appalachian State would get the winning runs in the top of the seventh, as Wendy Lewis reached on an error and Amber Handy was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. First baseman Diana Cook hit a three-run homerun to dead center as the Mountaineers won 5-2.

The Wolfpack will return to Walnut Creek to close out a six game homestand with a doubleheader against James Madison at 2:00 pm. Admission is free, so please come out and support Wolfpack Softball.