Softball Takes Game One from Virginia, 6-2

Saturday, April 14

Raleigh, N.C.

1:00 PM

NC State

33-16, 9-5

Virginia

14-29, 1-13

Virginia

NC State

4/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – Abbie Sims fanned seven batters and nailed a three-run bomb to lead NC State past Virginia, 6-2 in the first of three games on Saturday, April 14, at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. With the win, the Pack moves to 32-16 (8-5 ACC) on the year, while the Cavaliers fall to 14-28 (1-12 ACC). Sims (20-5) has now won at least 20 games from the circle during all four years of her career. Whitney Holstun (3-2) was handed the loss.

The Pack used three hits to put a run on the board in the bottom of the third. Kristine Bechtholdt grabbed the first hit of the game with a two-out single through the left side, and then moved to third on a Heather Gelbard double to left-center. Claudia Cooper followed a pinch-hit single to center, pushing Bechtholdt across the plate.

State pushed its lead to 2-0 with another run in the bottom of the fourth. Shanna Smith led off the frame with a single through the left side and stole her second base of the game by swiping second. Abbie Sims then singled, again through the left side, moving Smith to third. Krystal Hawkins then came on to run for Sims at first base, as Coty Tolar replaced Holstun in the circle for the Hoo’s. Megan Dalthorp later knocked a sac-fly to deep left, scoring Smith.

Sims took a no-hitter into the top of the fifth, but Lindsey Preuss beat out a grounder to short for an infield single with one out. Miranda Ervin later gunned down Preuss at second as she attempted the steal.

NC State put the game out of reach with four hits and four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Gelbard got things started with a bloop single into shallow right, and Lisa Nentwig ran in her place. Blair Harkey then pushed Nentwig to second with a well-placed sac-bunt back to the circle, and Chamberlin followed with a base hit through the left side, moving Nentwig along to third. An Allison Presnell RBI single up the middle advanced Chamberlin and scored Nentwig before Sims cleared the bases by belting a three-run jack to straightaway center.

The Cavaliers put two unearned runs on board in the top of the sixth, in part due to two Wolfpack errors. Elea Crockett reached on a fielder’s choice and Megan O’Leary took first on a Bechtholdt error at second. Kelly Haller then sent a base hit to right, scoring Crockett from second. When Presnell’s relay throw sailed over Ervin behind the plate, O’Leary trotted in to score from third.

NC State and Virginia will return to the field for game two at 1 p.m.