Wolfpack Edged By No. 17 Auburn, 2-0

Saturday, February 11

Auburn, Ala. (Tiger Invitational)

3:00 PM

NC State

1-2

Auburn

4-0

NC State

Auburn Tigers

2/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 11, 2006

Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. - Abbie Sims struckout seven and allowed just two runs as No. 17 Auburn escaped with a 2-0 win over NC State (1-2). The Tigers (4-0) managed just four hits against Sims (1-1) and Heather Gelbard hit her first double of the season. Shanna Smith and Miranda Ervin both singled for the Wolfpack in the loss.

Gelbard got NC State off to a quick start offensively in the first by hitting a double off the wall to lead off the game. Shanna Smith grounded out to third, but Gelbard advanced to third with heads up base running. Sims drew a walk to put runners on the corners, but Jen Chamberlin grounded into a double play to end the threat.

After Sims tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half, NC State again threatened with runners on the corners with one out. Miranda Ervin led off the inning with an infield single to short, and Beth Poore came in to run for Ervin. A wild pitch moved Poore to second, and Tess Corona grounded out to first to advance Poore to third. The threat was squashed as Jess Willems and Megan Dalthorp struck out.

The Wolfpack stranded two more runners in the third, as Smith and Sims reached with two outs. Smith drew a four-pitch walk and moved to second as Sims reached on an error by the second baseman. Chamberlin couldn't get around on the pitch in her turn up, and she popped up to third to end the inning.

Auburn finally got its offense going in the fourth against Sims, as Taryn Gray popped a bloop double in front of Willems in center. She moved to third on a passed ball by Ervin, and Kristina McCain grounded out to second as Corona held the runner at third. Smith made the defensive play of the year thus far for the Pack, as Auburn star Hollie Currie came to the plate. Currie hit a sinking liner in front of Smith, who charged and made a diving catch. She slid to her knees and doubled off a retreating Gray at third to end the Tigers' inning.

The Tigers got on the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth off of Sims. With two outs and a runner on second, Sara Ghezzi singled to left and moved to second on the throw to third to nab the runner at third. Starr Dorsey tripled off the wall to drive in the run for a 1-0 Auburn lead.

Auburn would add a second run in the sixth, as Sims hit a batter with the bases loaded for the final 2-0 margin.