Softball Falls to No. 5 Alabama Despite Late Push, 3-0

Friday, February 23

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

5:45 PM

NC State

7-4

Alabama

11-0

NC State

Alabama

Softball Falls to No. 5 Alabama Despite Late Push, 3-0

2/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Chrissy Owens held No. 22 NC State to four hits as No. 5 Alabama shut out the Pack, 3-0, on Friday, Feb. 23 at the 2007 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala. With the loss, NC State dips to 7-4 on the year, while Bama climbs to 11-0.

Brittany Rogers beat out an infield single to reach base in the bottom of the first for the Crimson Tide, then stole second and advanced to third on a Jordan Praytor groundout. Mandy Buford followed with a fielder’s choice to pitcher Shaina Ervin in the circle, who tossed the ball to catcher Jennifer Patterson for the tag on Rogers at the plate. Charlotte Morgan then grounded out to Shanna Smith at short to end the inning.

At the start of the bottom of the second, Lauren Parker ripped an Ervin pitch over Abbie Sims’ head in right field for a double. Parker then moved to third on a sac-bunt from Kelley Montalvo, but Ervin fanned the next two batters, wrapping up the inning.

Alabama struck first in the bottom of the third. Katie Johnson got hit by a pitch, and then moved to second on an infield single by Rogers. Both runners moved further along on a sacrifice bunt by Praytor, and Buford followed with a ground out to short, scoring Johnson to put Bama up 1-0.

Ervin didn’t allow any Crimson Tide base runners for the first time in the game during the bottom of the fourth, forcing one ground out and taking down two batters on swings.

The Roll Tide put up another run in the bottom of the fifth as Johnson doubled down the left field line with one out and moved to third on a ground out by Rogers. Praytor followed with a walk and stole second. Johnson then scored on a wild pitch and Praytor moved to third, before Ervin struck out Burford.

Morgan ripped a double to right center to begin Bama’s portion of the sixth and was replaced on the basepath by Mallory Benak. Parker then singled to left center, but Benak was called out on the base path due to interference. Parker then stole second and moved to third on a grounder to the circle by Dani Woods. Michelle Menningmann then sent a grounder to short, but Smith’s throw pulled Lisa Nentwig off of the bag, allowing Menningmann to reach and scoring Parker to put Alabama up 3-0.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Patterson and Sims both singled to keep the Pack’s hopes alive. Megan Dalthorp then singled up the middle, but Rogers threw a rocket to home plate where Ashley Holcombe was waiting to apply the tag on Krystal Hawkins, who had replaced Patterson on the base path, and was attempting to score from second.

Owens (6-0) collected the win for the Roll Tide, taking down six Pack batters on strikes and recording 18-straight outs. Ervin (2-2), who fanned six and allowed six hits and a walk, was handed the loss.

NC State will return to the field tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 24, with two more games at the 2007 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic. The Pack will battle Western Kentucky at 10:30 a.m. eastern, before taking on Winthrop at 12:30 p.m. (EST).