Mistakes Plague Softball in Loss to Indiana State, 2-1

Friday, February 23

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1:15 PM

NC State

7-3

Indiana State

5-1

NC State

Indiana State

Mistakes Plague Softball in Loss to Indiana State, 2-1

2/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 22 NC State committed two costly errors in the bottom of the ninth, succumbing to Indiana State, 2-1, on Friday, Feb. 23, in the first of two games on the day at the 2007 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala. In defeat, the Pack moves to 7-3 on the season, while the Sycamores climb to 5-1.

Audrey Childress doubled to begin the bottom of the second for Indiana State, and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Jessica McGivney. Pitcher Megan Dalthorp responded by forcing the next two Sycamore’s to ground out, ending Indiana State’s early threat.

The Pack shuffled its defense around in the bottom of the fourth, moving Sims to the circle, Dalthorp to left, and putting Krystal Hawkins in right. Sims promptly retired the Indiana State lineup without allowing a base runner in the inning for the first time in the game.

NC State had a chance to make something happen in the top of the sixth as Heather Gelbard led off with a single up the middle. Blair Harkey then pushed Gelbard to second while reaching safely on a bunt, but Gelbard’s momentum carried her onward towards third base, where she was gunned down. Jen Chamberlin followed with a pop-up to second and Jennifer Patterson went down swinging.

Sims struck out in the top of the seventh, but reached first on a passed ball. With Shanna Smith batting, catcher Sam Markowski picked off Sims before Smith fouled out. Wood then got Kristine Bechtholdt swinging.

With two outs and a full count in the bottom of the seventh, Childress drove a Sims pitch to right field for a triple, putting Indiana State on the doorstep of grabbing the win. McGivney was then hit by a Sims pitch and stole second shortly thereafter. But Sims caught Christina Meyers swinging, taking the games into extra innings.

Bechtholdt began the top of eighth on second for the Pack and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Laura Klem. A Hawkins fielder’s choice to the circle pushed her to first, but Bechtholdt got tagged out at third in a run down, allowing Hawkins to move to second. Gelbard popped out to second for the third out.

NC State finally put up a run in the top of the ninth. Presnell moved from second to third on an infield bunt single by Harkey, then scored on a single through the left side by Chamberlin, giving the Pack the first lead of the game at 1-0.

Although momentum seemed to favor NC State going into the bottom of the inning, Indiana State didn’t relent. Sims got Julie Damico looking for the first out, but Katie Armour reached first, while Jackie Chomicki advanced to third, on an off-the-mark throw from Smith at short. Katie Kestner then replaced Armour at first, and Sims fanned Katie Iocongeli for the second out. One out away from ending play, Childress drilled a fly ball to right, which Hawkins dropped, allowing both base runners to score the tying and winning runs.

Despite yielding just one hit, Sims (4-2) took the loss while striking out seven batters. Wood (4-1) grabbed the win for ISU. Dalthorp tossed three innings in her start for the Pack, allowing just three hits and collecting two strikeouts on 35 pitches.

NC State will return to the field later this afternoon, taking on host No. 5 Alabama. The game is slated to begin at 5 p.m. eastern.