Wolfpack Splits ACC Opener at North Carolina

April 9, 2004

CHAPEL HILL, NC - NC State softball split its Atlantic Coast Conference opener at North Carolina on Friday, April 9. The Wolfpack won the first game 5-2 and lost the second, 3-2. NC State improved to 28-18 and 1-1 in the ACC, while UNC moved to 33-15, 1-1. For the Wolfpack, freshman catcher Miranda Ervin hit a three-run homer in the seventh to insure the NC State win in game one, while UNC's Dionne Streete hit a lead-off home run in the eighth inning to help UNC the win in game two.

Game One Recap
NC State gave up six hits, but allowed just two runs in the first game. Pitcher Abbie Sims led NC State with nine strikeouts and just two walks as she earned her 19th victory of the season. She also went 3-of-4 from the plate, all singles, and tallied both a run and a RBI. Miranda Ervin was the star for the Pack however as she insured a NC State victory after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh. The Wolfpack's Heather Gelbard and Sims each singled to get on base and awaited a first-pitch shot to center field for the 5-2 advantage heading into the Tar Heels' final at bat. After allowing back-to-back singles, Sims forced UNC into a fly-out and a sac-bunt before striking out Emily Price for the final out. UNC's Price finished with two hits, which included a home run in the sixth, which tied the game at two. Pitcher Crystal Cox booked the loss for the Heels with nine strikeouts and five runs on nine hits.

Game Two Recap
After freshman pitcher Shaina Ervin had a no-hitter heading into the seventh inning, UNC had had enough. The Tar Heels' Streete finished the game after eight innings with a walk off home run to complete the scoring at 3-2. NC State had taken the lead early with a 2-0 stretch heading into the seventh inning. A lead off single from Wolfpack freshman Rene? LaCroix in the top of the third ended up being NC State's first run. A sac bunt from Heather Jedrey and a single from Sims moved LaCroix around the bases. Freshman third baseman Jennifer Chamberlin sent a team-high 10th home run into deep right-center field to take a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth inning. Unfortunately that completed the scoring for the Wolfpack as UNC pitcher Alison Yin retired the next 12 NC State batters before LaCroix singled as the lead-off batter of the eighth inning. NC State took a stab at the win as Jedrey sac bunted and Gelbard stepped in for a single, moving LaCroix around third base toward home plate. A solid throw from Streete in center field prevented the go-ahead run and Sims followed with a one-three out. UNC's Streete then turned around and hit the game winning home run in the team's first at bat in the extra inning. Shaina Ervin allowed four hits, four walks and strikeout nine. She is now 7-9 on the season. She had retired 16-straight batters before the seventh inning after walking the first at bat for Carolina.

NC State turns around to host the Maryland Terps on Saturday, at 1 p.m., out at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. The Terps improved to 20-14 after picking up two wins over visiting St. Joseph's on Thursday, 4-1 and 2-0.

Admission is free.

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Team Stats

Jennifer Chamberlin

Reneé LaCroix

Heather Gelbard

Abbie Sims