Saturday, March 10
Clearwater, Fla.
1:00 PM
NC State
18-7
6
vs
1
Michigan State
11-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
6
1
NC State
0
0
0
2
0
4
X
6
5
0
No. 25 Softball Powers Past Michigan State, 6-1
3/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – No. 25 NC State powered past Michigan State, 6-0, on Saturday, March 10, in the first of two games on the day at the USF adidas Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. Abbie Sims (10-3) gave up six hits and collected six strikeouts, while Megan Hair (4-5) took the loss. With the win, NC State climbs to 18-7 (2-1 ACC) on the season, while the Spartans fall to 11-9.
Michigan State threatened immediately in the top of the first. Nikki Nicosia singled to center and Kara Weigle advanced her with a well-placed bunt single that dragged the first base line. Following that, however, the Pack settled down. Caitlin Mahoney fouled out to Lisa Nentwig and Miranda Ervin gunned down Nicosia trying to steal third. Sims then fanned Dayna Feenstra and the Pack escaped without allowing any runs.
Ervin drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth and was replaced by Krystal Hawkins on first. Hawkins then stole second and Lesley Noel replaced Megan Hair in the circle for the Spartans. Sims welcomed Noel with a two-run blast over the fence in center, putting the Pack up 2-0.
Kelly Confer walked to start the top of the fifth for MSU, but Sims responded by striking out Gina Mondo and Confer was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice from Jessica LeFevere. Nicosia then beat out an infield single, pushing LeFevere to second. But Sims got Weigle to pop up to Blair Harkey in center and the Wolfpack escaped again.
NC State put the game out of reach with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth. Harkey collected an infield single to start things off, then moved to second as Jen Chamberlin singled up the middle. Sims fielder’s choice moved Harkey to third, but Chamberlin was forced out at second. Sims then stole second, before Shanna Smith walked on four-straight balls. Presnell followed by clearing the bases with a three-run triple, then scored when Megan Dalthorp reached first on a off-the-mark throw by Meghan Darhower at short.
Confer hit a solo shot to dead-center in the top of the seventh.
The victory moves NC State to the Gold Flight bracket of tournament play, which is single elimination. The Wolfpack will take on Hofstra tonight at 6 p.m.
Michigan State threatened immediately in the top of the first. Nikki Nicosia singled to center and Kara Weigle advanced her with a well-placed bunt single that dragged the first base line. Following that, however, the Pack settled down. Caitlin Mahoney fouled out to Lisa Nentwig and Miranda Ervin gunned down Nicosia trying to steal third. Sims then fanned Dayna Feenstra and the Pack escaped without allowing any runs.
Ervin drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth and was replaced by Krystal Hawkins on first. Hawkins then stole second and Lesley Noel replaced Megan Hair in the circle for the Spartans. Sims welcomed Noel with a two-run blast over the fence in center, putting the Pack up 2-0.
Kelly Confer walked to start the top of the fifth for MSU, but Sims responded by striking out Gina Mondo and Confer was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice from Jessica LeFevere. Nicosia then beat out an infield single, pushing LeFevere to second. But Sims got Weigle to pop up to Blair Harkey in center and the Wolfpack escaped again.
NC State put the game out of reach with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth. Harkey collected an infield single to start things off, then moved to second as Jen Chamberlin singled up the middle. Sims fielder’s choice moved Harkey to third, but Chamberlin was forced out at second. Sims then stole second, before Shanna Smith walked on four-straight balls. Presnell followed by clearing the bases with a three-run triple, then scored when Megan Dalthorp reached first on a off-the-mark throw by Meghan Darhower at short.
Confer hit a solo shot to dead-center in the top of the seventh.
The victory moves NC State to the Gold Flight bracket of tournament play, which is single elimination. The Wolfpack will take on Hofstra tonight at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sims, Abbie (10-3)
L: Megan Hair (4-5)
Batting:
HR: Kelly Confer 1
RBI: Kelly Confer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelly Confer 1
CS: Nikki Nicosia 1
HBP: Dayna Feenstra 1
Batting:
3B: Presnell, Allison 1
HR: Sims, Abbie 1
RBI: Sims, Abbie 2 ; Presnell, Allison 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Harkey, Blair 1 ; Hawkins, Krystal 1 ; Sims, Abbie 2 ; Smith, Shanna 1 ; Presnell, Allison 1
SB: Hawkins, Krystal 1 ; Sims, Abbie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
P/OF
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball1B/SS
/ SoftballP/OF
/ SoftballSS
/ Softball#BehindThe20 with former Pack Stars Abbie Sims and Renada Davis
Wednesday, April 24
Softball: Players Presser (2/15)
Thursday, February 15
Softball: Coach Leftwich Presser (2/15)
Thursday, February 15
EmpowHER with Aisha Weixlmann #Shorts #NCState #GoPack
Monday, October 16