Softball Gets School Record 42nd Win

Saturday, April 22

Charlottesville, Va.

3:00 PM

NC State

42-17, 12-5

Virginia

25-21, 5-11

NC State

Virginia

4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 22, 2006

Box Score

Shaina Ervin improved to 15-3 and Megan Dalthorp recorded the save as NC State set a new school record with its 42nd win as it beat Virginia, 7-5. The Wolfpack (42-17, 12-5 ACC) pounded out nine hits, including a 3-for-4 performance with two doubles and two RBIs from Abbie Sims and Jen Chamberlin's 11th home run of the season in the win. The Cavaliers (25-21, 5-11 ACC) got eight hits off of the Wolfpack pitchers but couldn't rally back after NC State posted itself to a 5-0 lead in the sixth.

Shaina Ervin tossed a no-hitter into the fourth, before an infield single from Jessica Taylor broke it up. Taylor was gunned down trying to steal second on a throw from Jennifer Patterson, and Sara Larquier walked and stole second. Ervin got Erin Horn to ground out to end the inning.

NC State put three on the board in the fifth on three hits and a Cavalier error. Abbie Sims singled, Megan Dalthorp reached on an error and Shaina Ervin singled up the middle to load the bases with no outs. With one out, pinch hitter Allison Cuculich reached on a fielder's choice to drive in the first run of the game. Heather Gelbard followed with a two-run single to make it 3-0.

Chamberlin homered to right centerfield to lead off the sixth to make it 4-0. It was her 11th home run of the season, second best in the ACC in 2006 and tied for third all-time in the career conference record books. Jennifer Patterson singled to center, and pinch runner Jess Willems scored on Sims' double and an error on the left fielder to make it 5-0.

The Cavaliers bounced back in the sixth as the rain started to come. Two runs came across on three hits and two Wolfpack errors, and the bases were loaded with one out with NC State up 5-2. Dalthorp came in to pitch in relief, and induced a popup and ground out to end the inning.

Sims and the Wolfpack offense put two more runs on the board in the seventh after Chamberlin and Patterson both walked with two outs. Sims then swung at the first pitch she saw for a two-run double to push the lead back to five, 7-2.

The Cavaliers rallied in the bottom half of the inning to put three more runs on the board, but the Wolfpack defense stepped up and turned a game ending double play for the final 7-5 margin.