UTC Beats No. 25 Softball in Extra Innings, 1-0

Friday, March 9

Clearwater, Fla.

1:00 PM

NC State

17-7

Chattanooga

14-12

NC State

Chattanooga

3/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - No. 25 NC State dropped a heartbreaker, 1-0, to Chattanooga in the second of two games on the day at the USF adidas Invitational in Clearwater, Fla., on Friday, March 9. Shaina Ervin (6-4) was handed the loss despite allowing just four hits and no earned runs. Brooke Loudermilk (9-4) grabbed the win, holding the Pack to just two hits. With the loss, NC State slides to 17-7 (2-1 ACC) on the season, while the Lady Mocs climb to 14-12.

The Pack threatened in the top of the sixth, but failed to put any runs across the plate. Heather Gelbard drew a two-out walk and was replaced by Beth Poore at first base. Blair Harkey then singled to center, breaking up Brooke Loudermilk’s no-hitter. Poore and Harkey both advanced a bag on a passed ball with Jen Chamberlin at the plate, but Chamberlin flew out to deep center field to end the top half of the inning.

With two outs in the bottom half of the sixth Tara Tembey drove a double to deep left center, moving Alyssa Edwards around second and past third. But Edwards kept running and Harkey relayed the ball from center into Shanna Smith, who threw a dead-on rope to Jennifer Patterson behind the plate. Following the collision between Edwards and Patterson, the Pack’s senior catcher rose to her feet with the ball, clinching the third out and preventing the go-ahead run from scoring.

Abbie Sims drilled a one-out single in the top of the seventh and stole second base when she noticed that no Lady Mocs were covering the bag. But Smith popped-up to short and Allison Presnell took a called-three strike, and the Pack’s scoring opportunity was over as quickly as it had begun.

The Wolfpack began the top of the eighth with Lisa Nentwig on second base, but the Pack failed to move her along. Megan Dalthorp’s bunt stayed in the air and was caught at third, and Claudia Cooper and Gelbard struck out.

Ashlin Clarkson started on second for Chattanooga in the bottom of the seventh and quickly moved to third on a sac-bunt from Laci Upchurch. Ervin then struckout Brittany Eason, but Ashley Cuticchia’s grounder was booted by Smith and Clarkson scored the winning run.

NC State will return to the field tomorrow Saturday, March 10, against Michigan State at 1 p.m. The Pack will more than likely play in a second at some point, but an opponent and game time depends on how the field plays out.