Wolfpack Completes Sweep Behind Sims No-Hitter

Wednesday, March 30

Raleigh, N.C.

5:00 PM

NC State

31-17

East Carolina (DH2)

41-10

East Carolina

NC State

3/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 30, 2005

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State closed out a doubleheader with a 2-1 win over East Carolina behind a no-hitter from Abbie Sims, the third of her career and season, to complete the sweep of the Pirates. One of those no-hitters was a perfect game. The Wolfpack (31-17) scored on a RBI groundout by Jess Willems and a sacrifice fly by Allison Cuculich. The Pirates (41-10) scored a run on a dead ball "catch and carry" on a strong catch by Blair Harkey in centerfield. NC State held the hot hitting Pirates to just two base hits on the day, as ECU came into the doubleheader hitting .306 as a squad.

Abbie Sims (12-7) struck out six in the first three innings, and started a double play after catching a line shot off the bat of Krista Jessup.

NC State scored the first run of the game in support of Sims, as Miranda Ervin reached on an error by the shortstop. Ashleigh Davis came in to run, and would later score her 15th run of the season as Willems reached on a fielder's choice. Allison Cuculich was hit by a pitch, and Beth Poore came in to run. Tess Corona grounded out to advance the runners to second and third, and Shanna Smith struck out for the second out.

Willems hit a chopper to short that the Pirates' Leigh Savoy tried to get Poore at third. Poore hesitated as she crossed the field of the vision of Savoy, and her throw to third wasn't in time to get Poore as Davis scored from third for a 1-0 lead.

The Pirates' scored the tying run on the application of the "Catch and Carry" rule. Sims walked two batters with one out in the fourth, before both advanced a base on a wild pitch. Krista Nichols hit a towering drive towards the waist high wall in right center that Wolfpack centerfielder Blair Harkey tracked perfectly off the bat. She made the catch at the wall, before tumbling partially over and on top of the fence. By rule, the batter is called out because Harkey left the field of play. It is a dead ball, but both runners advance a base, with Paige Baggett scoring on the play.

The Pack regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Allison Cuculich. Sims scored after she drew one of three walks in the inning off of relief pitcher Keli Harrell.