Softball Downs Gators in Extra Innings, 1-0

Saturday, February 17

Gainesville, Fla.

1:30 PM

NC State

5-2

Florida

8-2

NC State

Florida

2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, FLA. – Shaina Ervin tossed a one-hit gem as No. 24 NC State downed No. 19/20 Florida in the first of two games on the day at the Cox Communications Classic in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 17. With the win, the Pack moves to 5-2 on the season, while the Gators slide to 8-2. Ervin (2-1) collected her second win on five strikeouts and just two walks, while Stacey Nelson (5-1) took her first loss.

The Pack flirted with scoring in the top of the first as Blair Harkey reached on a throwing error by Nelson. Jen Chamberlin followed with a double that hit the bottom of the wall in right-center, pushing Harkey to third. Jennifer Patterson moved to first on a fielder’s choice, but Harkey was tagged out at the plate, ending the scoring threat.

Melissa Zick walked to start the Gator’s half of the fifth and was replaced on the basepath by Ashley Harris. Harris advanced to second on an Ali Gardiner grounder to third in the next at-bat, before Ervin caught Lacy Howard looking on a called third strike to record the second out. Florida’s scare came to an end when Chamberlin fielded a Lauren Roussell grounder to third and made a clean throw to first baseman Lisa Nentwig.

Harkey drew a walk to start the top of the sixth and moved to second on a wild pitch to Chamberlin, but the next three Pack batters failed to make anything happen.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Zick walked and promptly stole second, but Gardiner grounded out to second to push the game into extra innings.

Krystal Hawkins replaced Dalthorp in the top of the eighth, starting on second base, then advancing to third on a Nentwig fly ball to right. Gelbard then hit a deep fly to center, scoring Hawkins to put the Pack up 1-0. Miranda Ervin then took a pinch-hit walk and Harkey resumed her place on first base. A hard-hit Chamberlin grounder to short was booted by Roussell, allowing her to take first while pushing Harkey to third. Patterson then drew a free pass to first, and was replaced by Beth Poore on the basepath, but Sims struck out to end the Pack’s rally.

Savana Kelly began the Gators portion of the eighth as a pinch runner on second. Ervin then got Lacy Howard to go down swinging, before Roussell singled to left and moved Kelly to third. With one out and runners on the corners, Ervin fanned Mary Ratliff, allowing Roussell to steal second. With the game on the line, Ervin caught Brooke Howard swinging to put the final nail in the coffin and give NC State the win.

NC State will take on Chattanooga later tonight at 6:15 p.m.