Wolfpack Softball Falls in Ten Innings to ACC Rival Virginia

Saturday, March 26

Raleigh, N.C.

1:00 PM

NC State

28-16, 1-2

Virginia (DH1)

11-16, 1-0

Virginia

NC State

Wolfpack Softball Falls in Ten Innings to ACC Rival Virginia

3/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 26, 2005

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State and Virginia played a marathon first game in its ACC series this weekend at Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, N.C., as the two teams went to 10 innings before the Cavaliers prevailed, 7-6. The Wolfpack (28-16, 1-2 ACC) took a 2-0 lead before falling behind 4-2, and then rallied to take a 6-4 lead into the top of the seventh. The Cavaliers (11-16, 1-0 ACC) responded with two runs in the top of the seventh to force extra innings, and then scored the game winner in the 10th inning. Abbie Sims (11-7) went the distance in the loss, striking out 11 and scattering nine hits and allowing five earned runs while walking seven.

Heather Gelbard went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and scored two runs to pace the Wolfpack offense. Shanna Smith tripled and hit a RBI single in two at-bats, and Sims hit her fourth home run of the season in the loss.

Abbie Sims helped her own cause in the first inning, smacking a two-out, solo home run to left field on the first pitch from Coty Tolar (5-6) for a 1-0 Wolfpack lead.

Sims came out in the second inning energized, and struckout the 6-7-8 batters in order to retire the side, then started the third inning with two straight K's before Jessica Taylor flied out to end the third.

NC State put two on in two pitches as Blair Harkey his a slap single to third, and Heather Gelbard singled to right on the next pitch. After Sims grounded into a fielder's choice to advance Harkey to third, Jen Chamberlin hit a RBI single through the right side to put NC State up 2-0.

Virginia put runners on the corners in the fourth with no outs, as Sara Larquier broke up a no-hitter with a double to left, and Jenn Wynn walked as Larquier stole third. Virginia then double stole, with Larquier sliding just under the tag at home on a close play to plate the first Cavaliers run. Kierstie Cameron doubled to the wall to plate the pinch runner for Wynn, Kat Mirras, and tie the score.

Brooke Sorber walked, and then Lindsey Preuss laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners to second and third with one out. Sims would get out of the inning, inducing a strikeout and flyout to end the threat.

The Cavaliers took a 4-2 lead on a two-out, two-run home run with in the fifth inning from Jen Wynn. Elea Crockett drew a walk to lead off the inning, and Wynn hit the 3-2 offering from Sims to dead centerfield.

The bottom of the fifth saw NC State put runners on second and third with no outs, as Harkey reached on an error to start the inning. Gelbard singled to left field and advanced to second on the throw to third. With two outs, Chamberlin hit a hard ground ball to short that was booted for a run scoring error to trim the Virginia lead to 4-3.

Lee Hasper got things started with an infield single deep in the hole with one out before Jess Willems drew a walk. Allison Cuculich came in to pinch hit and grounded out to second to advance the runners to second and third with two down. Gelbard singled in two runs and advanced to second on the throw home to make it 5-4. Shanna Smith followed with an infield, RBI single to make it a 6-4 Wolfpack advantage.

Virginia started their own rally in the top of the seventh, with Jessica Taylor homering to right center to lead off the inning and trim the lead to 6-5. Sims caught Larquier looking on strike three, before Wynn singled and Cameron walked. Sorber singled to left and the tying run scored on an error as the ball scooted off of the glove of Hasper. Hasper nearly threw out the runner at home, but pinch runner Meghan O'Leary slid safely under the tag of Miranda Ervin.

In the top of the 10th, Virginia pushed a run across on two Wolfpack errors. Chamberlin threw wide at first on a bunt attempt by Preuss who reached second on the play. Dennis grounded out to move the runner to third, and on a strike to Greer, Preuss was caught in a brief run down between third and home. Smith dropped the throw from Miranda Ervin, which allowed the runner to score to give UVa. a 7-6 lead.