Softball Downs UVa in Game Two, 7-2

Saturday, April 14

Raleigh, N.C.

11:00 AM

NC State

32-16, 8-5

Virginia

14-28, 1-12

Virginia

NC State

4/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State used a season-high 14 hits to walk past Virginia, 7-2, in the second of three games on Saturday, April 14, at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. Heather Gelbard and Jennifer Patterson both slugged three-run homers, while Shanna Smith and Lisa Nentwig each collected three hits. With the win, the Pack moves to 33-16 (9-5 ACC) on the season, while the Cavaliers slide to 14-29 (1-13 ACC). Shaina Ervin (11-10) earned the win, while Whitney Holstun (3-3) took her second loss of the day.

The Pack got on board early with four singles in the bottom of the first. Gelbard, Blair Harkey and Jen Chamberlin led off with back-to-back-to-back base hits, and Smith later knocked Harkey in with an RBI single up the middle.

The Cavaliers threatened, but failed to score in the top of the third. Meghan O’Leary beat out a grounder to second for an infield base hit, and then moved to second on an Abby Snyder groundout. Brooke Sorber then singled to left, pushing Snyder to third, and took second on an errant throw by Megan Dalthorp in left. Elea Crockett then reached first, and later took second, on a fielder’s choice back to the circle, allowing Sorber to advance to third. O’Leary, however, was caught in a run down between third and home and was eventually tagged out by Smith. Kelly Haller grounded out during the next at-bat to end the inning.

Laura Klem walked to start the bottom of the fourth and Nentwig followed with a bunt single to third. Following a wild pitch that allowed both bases runners to move up a bag, the Hoo’s replaced Holstun with Karla Wilburn in the circle.

Gelbard greeted Wilburn with a line drive that left the yard in left-center, clearing the bases and pushing the Pack’s lead to 4-0.

Virginia scored in the top of the fifth on a Nicole Koren RBI single.

The Pack padded its lead with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Chamberlin led things off with a single up the middle, and later took second on a base hit to left by Smith. Patterson followed by drilling a three-run shot out of the park in left field.

The Cavaliers added an additional run in the top of the seventh, but it was too little too late for the Hoo’s.

NC State and Virginia will return to the field for game three at 5 p.m.