North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Softball Strong in Fall Tuneup for 2006 Season
10/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Oct. 16, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - On a beautiful fall afternoon at Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, N.C., the Wolfpack softball team took down Francis Marion and NC Central before tying Longwood at the NC State fall tournament. After winning 5-2 in a time limited game in the opener against Francis Marion, the Wolfpack bats exploded against NCCU, pounding out 17 runs on 12 hits for the 17-0 win. In the final game of the tournament, NC State and Longwood played to a scoreless tie after seven innings, as the Wolfpack 1-2 combo of Shaina Ervin and Abbie Sims combined to no-hit Longwood.
Jennifer Patterson got things started in the first game, hitting a two-run double and collecting three RBIs as the Wolfpack dropped Francis Marion in five innings, 5-2. Brooke Isley started the game and allowed two runs before Megan Dalthorp finished the game with three strikeouts in three innings pitched.
Game two showcased the Wolfpack offense, as NC State put up at least two runs in each of the five innings played against NCCU. Tess Corona led off the game and got hit by a pitch - one of three times she was beamed - then scored from first as Heather Gelbard's sacrifice bunt was thrown into the outfield by the NCCU pitcher, one of four errors that led to eight unearned runs. After an RBI single by Sims drove in Gelbard, Miranda Ervin hit a drive to left on the first pitch she faced for a two-run home run and a 3-0 lead in the first. Ervin later added a two-run single as the Wolfpack scored four more runs in the second inning. Jess Willems led off the third inning with a home run to left field, and Gelbard added a patented RBI double in the inning before scoring on another Sims' RBI single. Sims went 5-for-6 in the final two games of the day with two RBIs and two runs scored.
NC State added three more runs in the fourth, with Patterson, Dalthorp and Willems hitting back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs. Freshman Mackenzie Mangum drew a bases loaded, pinch-hit walk for a RBI, and Nentwig grounded into a fielder's choice to score the second run of the inning and give the Wolfpack a 12-0 lead. Corona singled in a run before Gelbard popped up to the shortstop who made a diving play on the ball. As Mangum moved safely to third ahead of the shortstops throw, Corona broke for second, but the third baseman's throw sailed into the outfield, allowing Mangum and Corona to score and make it 15-0. Dalthorp scored Chamberlin in the fifth with an RBI single, and would later score on a bases loaded walk to pinch-hitter Ashleigh Davis for the final 17-0 margin.
The Wolfpack pitching staff was sensational in the game against the NCCU Eagles, as Shaina Ervin, Dalthorp and Isley combined for five innings, one hit, two walks and 10 strikeouts.
NC State collected seven hits - at least one in each of the first six innings - against Longwood but couldn't push a run across in the seven inning contest. Shaina Ervin started the game and pitched three no-hit innings, walking two and striking out five. Sims came on and pitched the remaining four innings in her only appearance of the day from the circle, striking out seven and walking just two. Ervin pitched five innings on the day, allowing one run and three walks while striking out nine.
