Late Marshall Rally Puts Away Softball, 6-5

Friday, February 16

Gainesville, Fla.

9:00 AM

NC State

3-2

Marshall

3-3

NC State

Marshall

2/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, FLA. – No. 24 NC State lost to Marshall, 6-5, on Friday, Feb. 16, in the first of two games on the day at the Cox Communications Classic in Gainesville, Fla. With the loss, the Pack moves to 3-2 on the season, while the Thundering Herd climb to 3-3. Senior pitcher Abbie Sims (2-1) took the loss for the Pack, while Abigail Harter (2-2) collected the win.

Marshall drew blood early, putting its first three batters on base in the bottom of the first. Joscelyn Bitner walked to start things off, with Deanna Tourville getting hit on the next pitch from Sims. Rachel Folden then doubled to left, sending Bitner across the plate to give the Thundering Herd an early 0-1 advantage. Following a putout by Ashleigh Davis in right, Sims settled down, ending the inning with two strikeouts.

Jen Chamberlin walked to start off the Pack’s half of the fourth, and Sims gave herself some help with a two-run blast to right-center, putting NC State up 2-1.

The Thundering Herd, however, quickly answered back in the bottom of the inning. Gina Guzzo got a free pass to first after being hit by a Sims pitch, and then advanced to second on a Rachael Sofie fielder’s choice. A Caitlyn Jackson bunt then loaded the bases with no outs. Sims then hit Sarah Strong with a pitch, sending Guzzo in to tie the score.

Marshall manufactured one run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-3 lead. Guzzo got things started with an infield single. Kristine Bechtholdt then booted a grounder to second, allowing Guzzo to advance and putting Sofie on first. A single by Jackson scored Guzzo to put the Thundering Herd up.

Sims kept the Pack alive with a single up the middle to start the seventh, later advancing on a Bechtholdt sacrifice bunt. Smith then took first after being hit by a pitch. A Megan Dalthorp grounder to third was bobbled, and then overthrown to first, recording two errors on the play and allowing Sims to score and tie the game. Jennifer Patterson then crushed a pinch-hit double to right-center, bringing Smith and Daltohrp across the plate to give NC State the late lead, 5-3.

But Marshall wasn’t finished. Guzzo doubled to left, followed by a Sofie single to left. A Jackson single down the left line scored Guzzo, bringing the score to 5-4 with no outs. When Strong fouled out to Davis in right field, Sofie advanced to third, placing runners at the corners with one out. Sims then fanned Rachel Schmidt, before walking Bitner and Christina Guillen to tie the game. A Rachel Folden single gave the Herd the final run it needed to take down the Pack.