Wolfpack Rolls Over No. 18 Missouri, 6-0

Friday, February 17

Tucson, Ariz. (Worth Wildcat Tournament)

10:00 PM

NC State

6-3

Missouri

2-3

NC State

Missouri

2/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 18, 2006

Box Score

Abbie Sims tossed a gem from the circle and collected three RBIs at the plate as NC State won its fifth straight game, 6-0 over No. 18 Missouri. The victory over the Tigers (2-3) was the third win over a ranked team in school history for the Wolfpack (6-3). Sims fanned 10 and retired the last 12 batters of the game - including seven on strikeouts - to match her best career start at 4-1.

NC State jumped on Missouri out of the gate with three runs on two hits and three Tigers' errors. Heather Gelbard led off the inning with a walk, and Blair Harkey came in to run. Sims singled to score Harkey and Jen Chamberlin and Miranda Ervin reached to load the bases. Megan Dalthorp singled to drive in a run, and Lisa Nentwig hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 after the first.

The Wolfpack added three more runs on three hits in the second inning to give Sims all she would need. Tess Corona walked and Harkey reached on a bunt single to get things started. After a sacrifice by Shanna Smith advanced both runners, Sims hit a two-run single for a 5-0 lead. Alycia LePage pinch ran for Sims and promptly stole second. Jen Chamberlin smashed an 0-2 pitch up the middle to drive in LePage for the final 6-0 margin.

From there, it was all Sims. She allowed back-to-back singles in the third before two groundouts ended the threat. After Sims walked the leadoff batter in the fourth, she retired the final 12 batters of the game after allowing just four baserunners in the first three innings.

It was Sims' second shutout this season, and the 28th time she has struck out 10 or more batters in her career.