Pack Too Much for Coastal Carolina, 5-1

Sunday, February 11

Chapel-Hill, N.C.

2:30 PM

NC State

3-1

Coastal Carolina

0-4

NC State

Coastal Carolina

2/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The No. 22 NC State softball team wrapped up play at the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Sunday, Feb. 11, with a 5-1 win over Coastal Carolina. The decision puts the Pack at 3-1 on the young season, while the Chanticleers fall to 0-4. Megan Dalthorp secured the win from the circle in her first pitching appearance of the year.

The Pack got on board in the top of the first with a two-run blast from Jen Chamberlin. Blair Harkey drew a walk before Chamberlin, in the next at-bat, drove a Danyelle Gerdts pitch over the fence in left-center field, giving NC State an early 2-0 lead.

Chamberlin’s bomb, her second of the season, marks the 38th homer of her career. She now stands just one home run shy of tying former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Anne Knobbe for second-place all-time in the ACC record books for career home runs. The Pack’s senior slugger is the current leading active home run hitter in the league.

NC State added its remaining three runs in the top of the second. Kristine Bechtholdt took four balls and moved to second on a Shanna Smith single to right-center. Both runners then advanced on a wild pitch that contributed to a Dalthorp walk. With the bases juiced and no outs Ashleigh Davis fired a line drive to third, which was caught by Allison Cantrel, who promptly tagged third to record an out on Bechtholdt.

Heather Gelbard then began the two out rally with a base hit to left field, scoring Smith and moving Dalthorp to second. Harkey then reached base on a fielder’s choice as Dalthrop and Gelbard both scored on a throwing error by shortstop Laicole Walker, putting the Pack up 5-0.

Coastal Carolina mustered an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth, but Dalthorp’s pitching kept the Chanticleers’ bats quiet for the remainder of play.

Dalthorp (1-0) allowed just two hits and two walks in seven innings of work, recording seven strikeouts. Gerdts (0-2) took the loss for Coastal Carolina.

NC State will return to the field this coming weekend at the Cox Communications Classic in Gainesville, Fla. The three-day affair is hosted by the Florida Gators. The Pack will play two games on Friday, Feb. 16, taking on Marshall at 9 a.m., before battling Fordham at 11:15 a.m.