Wolfpack Softball Takes Opener Over Virginia, 4-0

Saturday, April 22

Charlottesville, Va.

1:00 PM

NC State

41-17, 11-5

Virginia

25-20, 5-10

NC State

Virginia

Wolfpack Softball Takes Opener Over Virginia, 4-0

4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 22, 2006

Box Score

Abbie Sims tossed a three-hit shutout as NC State (41-17, 11-5 ACC) defeated Virginia (25-20, 5-10 ACC) in the opener of a three-game ACC series in Charlottesville, Va. Megan Dalthorp had a RBI single and Miranda Ervin tied the school record with her 41st RBI of the season as NC State used eight hits and capitalized on four Cavaliers' errors in the win. Heather Gelbard, Jen Chamberlin and Sims each had two hits for the Wolfpack offense.

NC State moved a runner into scoring position in the first after a lead off single from Heather Gelbard. Ashleigh Davis came in to run and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Shanna Smith, her 18th of the season. Jen Chamberlin's groundout to second moved Davis to third, but Miranda Ervin struckout on a 2-2 pitch to end the threat.

More of the same in the second inning for the Wolfpack as Sims led off with a hard single to third. Megan Dalthorp's sacrifice bunt moved Sims to second, and Lisa Nentwig struckout looking to bring up Tess Corona. Corona grounded out to second to strand the second runner of the game in scoring position for the Wolfpack.

Gelbard reached in the third as she was hit with a pitch to get things started as the Wolfpack put three runs on the board. Smith reached on a fielding error by the Cav's shortstop to bring up Chamberlin. Chamberlin singled to center and moved to second on the throw home, but Gelbard was nailed at the plate for the second out. Ervin hit a shallow fly ball that was dropped by right fielder Jackie Greer to allow two unearned runs to score for the 2-0 Wolfpack lead. Sims follwed by hitting a single to center to move Ervin to second. Dalthorp then singled into left to score Ervin to make it 3-0.

The Cavaliers got a one-out double from Lindsey Preuss into the left-center gap in the fifth. Sara Larquier hit a ball to left, but Dalthorp made a sliding catch for the second out of the inning. Erin Horn was hit by a pitch to bring Brooke Sorber to the dish, but Sorber lined out to Smith at short to strand a pair.

Blair Harkey and Gelbard hit back-to-back singles to start the seventh, and Smith reached on a fielder's choice with Harkey out at third. Chamberlin hit a shot back to the pitcher for an infield single to load the bases. Ervin hit a sacrifice fly to drive in her 41st run of the season, tying the school record, for the 4-0 Wolfpack lead.

The shutout was Sims' eighth of the season, one off of her career-high and tied for the ACC lead. It was her third shutout in her last five starts.