Gelbard Lifts Softball Over Winthrop, 3-2

Saturday, February 24

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

12:30 PM

NC State

9-4

Winthrop

4-5

Winthrop

NC State

2/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, ALA. – Heather Gelbard sent a two-out single through the right side in the bottom of the seventh to propel No. 22 NC State past Winthrop in the second of two games on the day at the 2007 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Feb. 24. With the win, the Pack moves to 9-4 on the year, while the Eagles slide to 4-5.

Winthrop put two base runners on in the top of the first and gave both the green light to steal second. Jennifer Patterson didn’t have any of that, however, gunning down both runners from behind home plate by throwing ropes to shortstop Shanna Smith.

Smith later recorded the Pack’s first hit of the game in the bottom of the third, leading off with a chop single to left, but three-consecutive batters recorded put-outs to end any potential threat.

In the bottom of the fourth Jen Chamberlin absolutely destroyed a Megan Evans pitch that nearly hit the light pole in left field, putting the Pack up 1-0. The blast, Chamberlin’s 39th career shot, ties her with former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Anne Knobbe for second-place all-time in the ACC for home runs.

The Eagles responded to Chamberlin’s bomb in the top of the fifth. Hilary Peacock reached first on an error by Smith at short, then moved along as Laura Hill singled to left. Both runners then advanced on a sac-bunt by Mallory Hogan. Sarah Magee followed with a dribbler to Chamberlin at third, who tossed the ball to Patterson at the plate where Peacock was tagged for the second out. Bechtholdt then misplayed a Lauren Blaser grounder which would have ended the inning, allowing Trottier, who was running for Hill, to score and tie the game at 1-1.

Smith doubled and Bechtholdt walked in the bottom of the fifth to mount a Wolfpack threat, but Gelbard struck out looking to end the inning.

Stephanie Reid singled through the right side to start the top of the sixth, and then moved to second on a sac-bunt by Jenny Scrymgeour. Peacock followed with a single to right, scoring Reid from second and giving the Eagles a late 2-1 advantage.

With the window of opportunity closing, Sims led off the seventh with a single to right. Megan Dalthrop then popped a bunt back to the circle for the first out. But Smith singled to short, pushing Sims to second, and the Pack stayed alive. Allison Presnell then grounded out to second, but Sims and Smith both advanced a bag. Miranda Ervin then drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases with two outs for Gelbard.  On a 3-1 count, Gelbard drove a single through the right side, scoring Sims and Smith to give NC State a come-from-behind 3-2 win.

Shaina Ervin (3-2) recorded the win allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out five batters. Evans (2-3) took the loss for Winthrop.

The Wolfpack will return to the field at the 2007 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 25, standing as the No. 3 seed. The team will take on the No. 2 seed at 10:30 a.m. EST. At press time, the No.2 seed had not yet been established.