Softball Downs No. 24 FSU in Comeback Win, 3-2

Saturday, March 17

Fullerton, Calif.

12:00 PM

NC State

20-10

Florida State

21-11

NC State

Florida State

3/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. – NC State got all three of its runs in the final two innings to overcome No. 24 Florida State, 3-2, as the ACC rivals squared off at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., on Saturday, March 17. The Pack collected five hits and got some assistance on three Seminole errors, as Shaina Ervin (7-6) struck out nine batters and allowed just four hits. Both of FSU’s runs were unearned. With the win, NC State moves to 20-10 (2-1 ACC), while Florida State falls to 21-11.

Tiffany McDonald (7-7) took the loss for the Seminoles, allowing one run and one hit in two innings of work. Melissa May started from the circle for FSU, but was replaced with McDonald in the top of the sixth. May gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits.

State now leads the all-time series, 7-6, between the two schools. Head coach Lisa Navas’ four-year-old program is the only one in the Atlantic Coast Conference to lead the all-time series against Florida State. The Pack already won this year’s ACC series, taking two of three games from the ‘Noles in Raleigh, Saturday, March 3 through Sunday, March 4.

NC State is one of just eight programs to lead the all-time series with Florida State when the two programs have squared off more than 10 times. The other seven teams include Arizona, California, Cal. State Fullerton, Louisiana Tech, Michigan, Nebraska and Oklahoma State.

Florida State drew first blood in the bottom of the second. Robin Ahrberg walked and moved to second when Carly Wynn reached first with two outs on an error at first by Allison Presnell. Ervin walked LaShaun Davis to load the bases and Michelle Synder beat out an infield single to short, scoring Ahrberg to put the Seminoles up 1-0.

Snyder got another RBI in the bottom of the fourth with a double to center field, bringing in Wynn to bump the score to 2-0.

The Seminoles appeared poised to score again in the bottom of the fifth as Whitney Buckmon singled up the middle and moved to second on a sac-bunt back to the circle from Brittany Krbec. But Jen Chamberlin made a great stop on a hard grounder to third by Yuruby Alicart and Ahrberg sent a line drive into Ervin’s glove in the circle, and State escaped the inning.

The Pack, however, found momentum on its side in the top of the sixth. Chamberlin took first on Alicart’s second error of the game at short, and was replaced on the bag by Krystal Hawkins. Sims then sent a tape-measure blast over the fence in left field to knot the score at 2-2. Presnell followed by walking on five pitches, then taking second on a wild pitch. Following the wild pitch, the ‘Noles immediately replaced Melissa May with Tiffany McDonald. FSU also put Ahberg behind the plate, shifting Krbec to the designated player spot.

McDonald promptly retired three-straight Wolfpack batters.

State got the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh when Heather Gelbard ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Laura Klem and putting the Pack up 3-2. Klem led off the inning with her second walk of the game.

Ervin left no question in the bottom of the seventh, retiring the Seminoles in order, one-two-three, to secure the win.

NC State will return to the field tomorrow, Sunday, March 18, at 11:30 a.m. EST. The Pack will face No. 2 Arizona State for a spot in the consolation championship game.