North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Completes Inaugural Season; Falls 6-0 to Maryland
5/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 15, 2004
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - NC State softball fell 6-0 to Maryland in game six of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament on Saturday, May 15, in Tallahassee, Fla. The Wolfpack dropped to 32-27 overall, while Maryland improved to 33-26. NC State's Abbie Sims took the loss and finished her freshman campaign with a 20-11 record, while UM's Monica Cyphert earned the win and owns a 12-9 record.
Maryland scored a run in three-straight innings for a 3-0 lead early on, which included two home runs. The Terps didn't waste any time getting itself on the board as Casey Leiter homered on the second pitch of the game. The Terps took a 1-0 lead after one inning. Maryland struck again in the second on another solo homerun. Pitcher Monica Cyphert took a 1-0 count to right center and improved the Terps' lead to 2-0. In the third, Crystal Rizzuto scored the third run after reaching base on an error. The Terps improved to 4-0 in the fifth after Keri Lounge led-off with a single to left and eventually scored the run.
NC State recovered from a hitless three innings in the fourth with a hard single by freshman Abbie Sims to the third base side to reach base for the first time in the game. She was followed up by freshman Jennifer Chamberlin who hit a tough shot to Maryland's pitcher Cyphert who errored on the throw to first. The Wolfpack didn't capitalize on with two runners on however and ended the inning. Pitcher Shaina Ervin entered in the top of the third to replace Sims, who started the game. Ervin held the Terrapins scoreless in the fourth inning after she struck out Maryland's first two batters in the fourth.
The Pack tried again in the sixth to get its offense going after freshman second baseman Heather Gelbard led-off the inning with her 13th double of the season down the left field line. But her effort was followed by three straight outs to end the inning.
Maryland added two more runs in the sixth to take a 6-0 lead to end the game.
Sims finished the game with two runs off five hits, no walks and two strikeouts in 11 batters faced. Ervin entered in the bottom of the third. She allowed four runs off seven hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 21 batters faced. MD's Cyphert finished the shutout with three hits, no walks and four strikeouts in 25 batters.
Three NC State players collected a hit, including Gelbard's double, the Wolfpack saw Sims and Carolina Blount with a hit.
After two losses in the double elimination ACC Tournament, NC State has put an end to an illustrious first season as a program. Chamberlin led the Pack with 12 homeruns, while Gelbard led with 62 hits. Sims led in the circle with a 20-11 record and 248 strikeouts in 191.2 innings. First year head coach Lisa Navas improved her career record to 376-161-1 after 10 seasons as a head coach.
