North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Falls to Virginia
4/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 24, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - NC State fell to Virginia in both games on Saturday, April 24, in Charlottesville, Va. The Wolfpack lost 5-4 in the first game and 6-2 in game two. Freshman Jennifer Chamberlin recorded the program's first triple.
Game 1 Recap
NC State led 4-0 after three innings, scoring two runs in both the first and third innings. The Pack collected three of its nine hits of the game in the first inning, which included a leadoff single and a triple to right field from freshman third baseman Jennifer Chamberlin. Heather Gelbard and Abbie Sims hit back-to-back singles to leadoff the first inning. They followed by Miranda Ervin who reached on a fielder's choice. Chamberlin then tripled to right field to score pinch runners Moffatt Steele and Sherry Lail. In the third inning, the Wolfpack's Abbie Sims hit a leadoff single up the middle to start the second NC State rally. Miranda Ervin advanced Sims to second with a sac bunt. After a pop-up to third base by Jennifer Chamberlin, Shaina Ervin hit a shot to the left side to bring in Sims. Freshman Allison Cuculich tallied the Pack's seventh hit of the game when she doubled to right and sent Ervin home for the fourth and final run. NC State went three and out in the fourth before Miranda Ervin leadoff in the top of the fifth with a single through the left side. Sims recorded the ninth hit of the game as the leadoff batter in the seventh, but two strikeouts and a fielder's choice left the Pack stranded with four runs to end the game. Virginia started its scoring run in the fourth inning after a walk and two-straight hits, including a triple from Sara Larquier, which brought in two runs. The Cavaliers knotted the score at four in the fifth inning, starting with a leadoff walk from shortstop Heather Field. Elea Crockett hit a triple and was followed by Jenn Wynn's double to score the tying run. Sims and the Wolfpack defense held UVa in the sixth. In the Cavs final inning Field walked and was followed by a triple to right field to bring in the winning run.
For the Wolfpack, Sims took the loss and now owns a 20-9 record. She finished the game with five runs off seven hits, four walks and nine strikeouts in 29 batters faced. Sims also led the team in hits with three and Chamberlin had two RBI, and recorded NC State's first triple of the year. Virginia's Erin Horn earned the win. She improved to 15-8.
"We came out on fire and did a great job in the first few innings," said head coach Lisa Navas. "Now we need to learn how to sustain that fire for the entire seven innings."
Game 2 Recap
NC State answered Virginia's leadoff home run, with two runs of its own in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. Freshman pitcher Shaina Ervin walked to lead off the second inning. After Allison Cuculich's fielder's choice, Jennifer Patterson singled and Heather Jedrey walked. With the baes loaded, pinch runner Beth Poore was forced out a the plate on Renee LaCroix sharp-hit ball to third. Gelbard stepped to the plate and singled to right driving in Patterson and Jedrey to put the Pack ahead 2-1. Virginia insured a Cavalier victory after scoring four runs in the fourth and one run in the sixth.
NC State's Shaina Ervin recorded the loss and now owns a 10-11 record. She finished the game with six runs off 10 hits, three walks and seven strikeouts in 33 batters faced. Miranda Ervin led the Pack with two hits and Gelbard had two RBI.
On the day tallied 15 hits, six RBI and walked six walks. Pack pitchers struckout 17 Cavaliers, while walking seven.
"A couple of mistakes led to a four-run, fourth inning, that we could not recover from," said Navas. "The game gave us some things to work in practice this week in preparation for the upcoming doubleheader at Florida State next weekend."
NC State will travel to face the No. 2 ranked Florida State Seminoles on Saturday, May 1, in Tallahassee, Fla.
