North Carolina State University Athletics
Softball Splits at Coastal Carolina
4/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 22, 2004
NC State split its double header at Coastal Carolina on Wednesday, with a 4-3 loss in game one and a 4-1 win in game two. Freshman pitcher Shaina Ervin improved to 10-10 after helping NC State move to 32-21 on the year. The Chanticleers fell to 20-24 for the season. Freshmen Miranda Ervin and Jennifer Chamberlin each tallied a home run for the Wolfpack. Ervin finished with four hits on the day to lead the Pack.
Game 1 Recap
NC State seemed to have the win in its grasp, but a seventh inning rally from Coastal Carolina that resulted in three runs, turned fate towards Coastal Carolina's dugout. The Pack had scored a run in the third, fifth and sixth innings to take a 3-1 lead heading into the final Chanticleers' at bat.
The Wolfpack took a shot at striking first after freshman Miranda Ervin singled to left field. But it wasn't to be so. The first inning did not allow the Pack to score. Freshman pitcher, Abbie Sims who is ranked 16th in the nation in strikeouts per game (9.3), started off the game a bit shaky after she walked three straight Coastal Carolina batters to load the bases. Sims battled back however and struckout the next three Chanticleers she faced to strand all three base runners. NC State put the first run on the board in the third inning when the Coastal Carolina pitcher Danyelle Gerdts hit two NC State batters, including Jennifer Chamberlin, who's advance pushed Renee LaCroix to home plate. LaCroix had led off the inning with a shot to the Coastal Carolina shortstop who bobbled the grounder for an error. CCU had one single in the third inning by Sara Hostetler, but left her stranded. The Wolfpack earned its second run of the game two innings later when freshman catcher Miranda Ervin hit her sixth home run of the season. After Sims led off the inning, Ervin bombed her third pitch over the center field fence. The Wolfpack loaded the bases after a Chamberlin walk, a Shaina Ervin single to right field and Carolina Blount reached base after a hit by pitch. Sims left the Chanticleers looking as she and the Wolfpack defense went three and out to complete the inning. NC State started the sixth inning with back-to-back doubles, leading to a third run in the process. Heather Gelbard recorded her 11th double of the season and Sims followed with her eighth of the year, to bring Gelbard's pinch runner, Laura Klem across home plate for the third run. Miranda Ervin followed up Sims' at bat with a single. NC State completed its best inning of the day with three hits and one run. Coastal Carolina put itself on the board in the sixth after a hit from Lynee Hastings scored Brittany Nelson, who had reached base on a walk. The Wolfpack made a run at trying for a fourth score and started off in the right way when freshman Allison Cuculich led off with a single to left field. Coastal Carolina's Gerdts forced the Pack into three-straight outs to end the inning. The Chants however got the ball rolling immediately as their leadoff batter, pitcher Gerdts, hit a double to left field. After a walk by left fielder Delane Oscarson and a sac bunt from center fielder Katey Allen, the Chanticleer's third baseman, Sara Hostetler walked as well, pushing in the team's second run. A two-run single from cleanup batter, Kristina Sheppard, finished the game with a 4-3 score in favor of CCU.
Sims fell to 20-7 on the season after allowing four runs off four hits, eight walks, had six strikeouts in 31 batters faced.
Game 2 Recap
NC State jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after two innings. Two of those runs were scored in the first inning as the Pack recorded four hits, all singles. Leadoff batter Gelbard started the hitting spree off with a single to left. Three more singles from Miranda Ervin, Shaina Ervin and Jennifer Patterson moved the runners around, eventually scoring two runs for the Pack. NC State's third run was scored in the second inning after Sims doubled to score Gelbard, who had reached base on a single to left center.
Chamberlin led off the fifth inning with a solo shot to left center. She sent the first pitch yard for her 12th homerun of the season and scored NC State's fourth run of the game.
Behind solid pitching from Shaina Ervin, NC State held Coastal Carolina at bay for two-straight innings and tallied eight strikeouts before allowing the Chanticleers' leadoff batter in the sixth inning, Sara Hostetler, to get on with a double to right field. Her hit would eventually lead to the Chanticleers' only run of the game.
NC State reached base on an error and a walk in the final inning, but did not get a hit, knotting the score at four runs for the Pack heading into the final at bat for Coastal. Ervin and NC State's defense kept CCU from getting on base with three quick outs to end the game.
Ervin improved to 10-10 on the year. She allowed one run off six hits and had two walks in 29 batters faced.
NC State, 3-3 in ACC play, will travel to Virginia for a double header on Saturday. The first game begins at noon.
