North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
31-12, 5-2
Maryland
18-16, 1-6
Wolfpack Splits Doubleheader With Maryland
4/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 1, 2006
NC State softball split a home doubleheader with Maryland on Saturday at Walnut Creek Softball Complex. Shaina Ervin (10-2) tossed a five hitter and struck out four batters to win game one as NC State downed the Terrapins, 4-1. Abbie Sims (15-8) hit her second home run of the season in the contest but was the tough luck loser in the second game, a nine inning affair in which she tied a career-high with 16 strikeouts in the 1-0 loss. The Wolfpack (31-13, 5-3 ACC) and Terrapins (19-16, 2-6 ACC) meet for the finale of the three-game set on Sunday at 1 p.m.
In game one, Ervin retired 13 straight batters until two singles in the sixth put runners on with one out. She retired the last two batters to end the threat and preserve the 4-0 lead after NC State put up four runs in the fourth.
Heather Gelbard singled through the left side and Corona came in to run in the fourth. Shanna Smith singled to short, and both runners moved up a bag on a passed ball. Jen Chamberlin popped up behind the second-base bag and Kerri Lounge made a diving stop on the ball, but it was enough to drive in Corona from third. Sims homered to left with two outs to make it 3-0 Wolfpack, and Ervin helped her own cause with a single up the middle to chase starter Crystal Crews (11-7). Dalthorp laced the next pitch into left center and Ervin scored from first for the Wolfpack's fourth run.
Lindsey Klein led off Maryland's seventh with a solo home run, snapping a 26 inning scoreless streak by Ervin.
Maryland and NC State battled in game two into the ninth inning, with both teams squandering chances to score. The Wolfpack loaded the bases in the fourth and seventh and had two on in the first without plating a run and both teams left eight runners on base in the contest.
Sims fanned 16 batters for the third time in her career in the loss, and allowed just four hits and one run on a home run in the top of the ninth by Nikki Smith.
Megan Dalthorp went 3-for-6 in the two games with two doubles and a RBI to pace the offense.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ervin, Shaina (10-2)
L: Crystal Crews (11-7)
Batting:
HR: Lindsay Klein 1
RBI: Lindsay Klein 1
SH: Keri Lounge 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lindsay Klein 1
Batting:
2B: Dalthorp, Megan 1
HR: Sims, Abbie 1
RBI: Chamberlin, Jennifer 1 ; Sims, Abbie 2 ; Dalthorp, Megan 1
SF: Chamberlin, Jennifer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Shanna 1 ; Sims, Abbie 1 ; Ervin, Shaina 1 ; Corona, Tess 1
