Softball Completes Sweep of Rival Tar Heels, 2-0

Sunday, April 22

Raleigh, N.C.

12:00 PM

NC State

39-16, 13-5

North Carolina

41-15, 10-7

North Carolina

NC State

Softball Completes Sweep of Rival Tar Heels, 2-0

4/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. NC State capped off an emotional Senior Day at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex by securing its ninth-straight win over rival North Carolina, 2-0, on Sunday, April 22. The win marks the Pack’s third-consecutive ACC series sweep and sixth-straight shutout game, while extending the program’s school-record winning streak to 15 games. The victory moves the Pack to 39-16 (13-5 ACC), while the Tar Heels fall to 41-15 (10-7 ACC). Abbie Sims (24-5) collected the win, while Lisa Norris (23-10) took the loss.

NC State now stands at 11-2 all-time against UNC.

The Tar Heels entered the series having been shut out just twice all season before failing to score a single run throughout the entire three-game stand. State’s three shutouts in two days mark the first time in program history that the Wolfpack has swept an ACC squad and kept it from scoring throughout the series.

“I’m just so proud of the kids,” said head coach Lisa Navas. “Today was such a special day for the seniors and the team played great. For these nine seniors, to go 11-2 against a program like that in four years, it’s really something to be proud of. It was all about them today.”

UNC threatened early. Breanna Brown led off the game with an infield single to short, and then moved to second on a sac-bunt by Cassie Palmer. Jennifer Jacobs then moved Brown with a groundout to second baseman Kristine Bechtholdt. With two outs and Brown on third, Casey Testa drilled a Sims pitch to the warning track in center, but Blair Harkey was able to pull the ball in and end the Tar Heels early threat.

Brown reached again with a one-out bunt back to the circle in the top of the third. But Palmer sent a screamer of a line drive to Jen Chamberlin at third, who made the catch and promptly threw the ball over to first baseman Lisa Nentwig. Brown had failed to get back to the bag, and was ruled out to end the inning.

Bechtholdt and Heather Gelbard grabbed the Pack’s first hits of the ball game with back-to-back one-out singles in the bottom of the third. But Harkey flew out to center, and Chamberlin grounded out to third, keeping State off of the scoreboard.

Shanna Smith sent a two-out blast, her eighth of the season, to straightaway center in the bottom of the fourth, putting the Pack on the board at 1-0.

North Carolina had a golden opportunity in the top of the fifth, but failed to do any damage. Norris drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by Christine Knauer at first. Emily Troup followed with a grounder back to the circle, and Sims sent a throw to Smith at short where Norris was forced out at second. Anna Roberts then collected a pinch-hit infield single, putting runners at first and second with one out. But Danielle Spaulding flew out to center, Brown lined out to third, and State escaped unscathed.

The Wolfpack put its leadoff runner on base in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn’t manage to grab an insurance run. Megan Dalthorp doubled to left to start the inning. A Bechtholdt sac-bunt towards third then allowed Dalthorp to move up a bag. But Gelbard struck out and Harkey grounded out to second, leaving Dalthorp stranded on the basepath.

Miranda Ervin moved the score to 2-0 with a two-out RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Beth Poore from second base.

Anna Evans led off the top of the seventh with a base hit through the left side. Sims responded by fanning Norris. Troup then sent a blazing liner back to Sims in the circle, who made the catch and tossed the ball to Nentwig at first to tag up Evans and end the ball game on the Pack’s second double play of the day.

NC State will now take a few days off as exams begin on campus. Next weekend, however, the Pack will wrap up its regular season with a final ACC contest at Maryland in College Park, Md. The Pack and Terps will square off for two games on Saturday, April 28, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., before the wrap-up bout at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 29.