Wolfpack Softball Upends No. 20 Florida State

Monday, March 7

Raleigh, N.C.

3:00 PM

NC State

22-10, 1-1

Florida State (DH2)

15-8, 3-2

Florida State

NC State

3/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

March 7, 2005

Box Score

NC State's Abbie Sims struck out a school record 16 batters and hit a RBI single in the fifth inning as the Wolfpack (22-10, 1-1 ACC) upset No. 20 Florida State, 2-1 in the second game of an ACC twin bill. The Seminoles (15-8, 3-2 ACC) won the opener, 5-2, with only two of the runs being earned. Jen Chamberlin reached on an error with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, as Reneé LaCroix scored from second base for the winning run of the second game. FSU's Melissa Wood hit a solo home run in the fourth, one of only four Seminole hits, for the lone run of the game. In the opener, the Wolfpack's Allison Cuculich hit a two-run home run in the loss. It was NC State's second win over a ranked team in school history.

"I like the way the kids came back and played hard in the second game," Navas said. "We didn't make the mistakes that cost us like we did in the first game. We came out and swung the bats and hit the ball. We made the plays we needed to make."

It was amazing to have that much excitement in the bottom of the seventh inning. Having a home run called back, then having Chamberlin's ground ball that made something happen. That was fun."

The second game had two dramatic finishes, as NC State appeared to win the game on a Lee Hasper home run to right center field. With one out and LaCroix on first after Gelbard drew a walk and was pinch ran for, Hasper hit a towering drive to the fence. FSU centerfielder Whitney Buckmon made the catch at the wall and tumbled completely over the waist high fence. The umpires initially ruled it a home run, as the Wolfpack dug out emptied and the celebration began. After both umpires conferred, it was ruled a "catch and carry", where the outfielder made the play then left the field of play completely. The batter is out but the runner advances a base.

With LaCroix on second and some air out of the Wolfpack sails, Sims was intentionally walked to bring up the Wolfpack clean-up hitter, Jen Chamberlin. Chamberlin hit a chopper back to the pitcher, Tiffany McDonald (7-1), who booted the ball, allowing a streaking LaCroix to score from second. The celebrations were real this time, as the team celebrated on the field in the historic win, the first against ACC power Florida State.

Sims was brilliant, allowing four hits, one run and two walks while fanning 16. She held the school record with 15 strikeouts, set twice last year, and had a season-high of 14 coming into the game.

NC State got two brilliant pitching performances on the day, with Sims career day and a strong outing from Shaina Ervin in the opener, a 5-2 loss. Ervin went the distance and allowed just five hits and only two earned runs. All five runs for Florida State came on two-out base hits, as the clutch-hitting Seminoles capitalized on two Wolfpack errors.

Brittany Osmond hit a ground ball to Cuculich at first, but the error allowed two runs to score with the base loaded and two outs.

The Seminoles added another run with two outs in the third on a two-out double by Wood to right center scored Veronica Wootson, who reached on an error by Shanna Smith on a high chopper. Florida State took a 5-0 lead in the fifth, getting two more runs on Wood's first home run of the day.

Smith singled for NC State to start the sixth her second hit in two at-bats, and Cuculich followed with her first home run of the season to left centerfield.

Chamberlin and Hasper each singled to pace the Wolfpack offense.

NC State and the Seminoles will battle it out in the rubber match on Tuesday, Mar. 8 in the third game of the series. The game will start at noon at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex, the home of Wolfpack softball.