Softball Gets Revenge on Indiana State, 5-4

Sunday, February 25

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

TBA

NC State

10-4

Indiana State

7-3

NC State

Indiana State

2/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, ALA. – No. 22 NC State used a four-run fifth inning to beat Indiana State, 5-4, and clinch a spot in the 2007 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic championship game in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Sunday, Feb. 25. With the win, the Pack climbs to 10-4 on the year, while the Sycamores fall to 7-3. NC State has now dropped its opening game in tournaments the past two weekends, only to rally back and play in the championship bout.

Blair Harkey, Jen Chamberlin and Abbie Sims all singled in the top of the first as the Pack threatened early, but Darcy Wood caught Megan Dalthorp swinging to end the inning with the bases loaded.

Indiana State scored two runs in the bottom of the third to claim an early lead. Sam Markowski got hit by a Shaina Ervin pitch and was replaced on the basepath by Lauren Kebely. Julie Damico followed with a grounder to the circle, but Ervin’s toss to second sailed, allowing Kebely to reach third while Damico took first. Meredith Simpson then drew a walk on five pitches to load the bases with no outs for Lindsey Starwalt. Ervin got Starwalt to pop-up back to the circle, and then sent Katie Armour back to the dugout swinging, but Audrey Childress singled to short and Shanna Smith’s throw was low, allowing Kebely and Damico to score.

Head coach Lisa Navas corralled her team before the top of the fifth began, and the Wolfpack responded to her call. Allison Presnell popped up to first, but Katie Iocoangeli couldn’t make the catch and Presnell hustled on to second base. Heather Gelbard then ripped a two out double to left, scoring Presnell. Krystal Hawkins then replaced Gelbard at second and Jennifer Patterson drew a pinch-hit walk. Harkey resumed her role on first base, and all runners advanced as Chamberlin reached first on an error by Christina Meyers at short. With the bases loaded, Miranda Ervin lined a bases-clearing triple to right, putting the Pack up 4-2.

NC State added one run to its lead in the top of the sixth. Smith mailed a Woods pitch to deep right field, collecting her second triple on the year as the ball hit the top of the wall just inside fair territory. Presnell followed with a rope to left center, winding up with a double as Smith crossed the plate.

The Sycamores, however, didn’t go down without a fight. Jackie Chomicki walked to start the bottom of the seventh, but Ervin fanned Rachel McCleary for the first out. Markowski then blasted a two-run shot over the fence in left, shortening the Pack’s lead to 5-4.

But Damico and Simpson both sent easy grounders to second and the circle respectively, and the Pack held on for the win and a berth in the championship game.

Ervin (4-2) earned the win with 13 strikeouts while giving up just two hits. Wood (5-3) took the hard-luck loss. Markowski’s homer in the bottom of the seventh marks the first given up by Ervin this season.

NC State will return to the field at the 2007 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic later this afternoon, taking on the winner of Winthrop vs. No. 5 Alabama in the championship game. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EST.