Softball Ends Road Trip with 7-1 Win over Jacksonville

Sunday, March 9

Clearwater, Fla.

11:00 AM

NC State

14-12

Jacksonville

12-16

NC State

Jacksonville

Softball Ends Road Trip with 7-1 Win over Jacksonville

3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. The NC State softball team ended its 11-game tour of duty with a 7-1 win over Jacksonville at the USF Under Armour Invitational on Sunday, March 9. Shanna Smith, Lacey Holm and Allison Presnell each pounded out two hits. The game serves as an end to the Pack’s road journey, which began way back on Feb. 29.

State returns to Raleigh riding its first three-game winning streak of the year. The team collected decisions in seven of its 11 games during the sabbatical, including five of its last six.

“I’m extremely happy with the way we are coming together at this point,” said head coach Lisa Navas. “We played well this weekend and different people stepped up. I’m looking forward to the second half of the season.”

The win moves State to 14-12 on the year, while the Dolphins fall to 12-16. Lindsay Campana (7-10) picked up her second victory of the day in the circle after dusting off Penn State earlier in the morning. Jackie Samuels (5-7) was handed the loss.

The Wolfpack jumped on JU quickly, putting up three runs in the top of the first. It all started when Smith smoked a solo-blast to dead center on the third pitch of the game. Alyssa Allbritten was later hit by a pitch, and Holm singled to left. Presnell followed with a base hit to right, and Allbritten was able to score from second on an off-the-mark throw from Jillian Mirante in right. Alyssa Ishibashi then knocked Holm in with a sac-fly to deep right.

Making sure that nobody had forgotten just how sensational of a defensive player she is, Blair Harkey made a highlight-reel diving grab on a Mirante liner in center to close out the bottom of the third.

Shannon Jensen took over in the circle for the Dolphins in the top of the fourth, surrendering three more runs to the Wolfpack. Kristine Bechtholdt immediately doubled to left, and Lisa Nentwig advanced her to third with a groundout to second. Bechtholdt then hustled home to score on a passed ball to Harkey.

Harkey eventually walked and Smith moved her to third with a double to right-center. A Lauren Peters slap to second scored Harkey, and Allbritten brought Smith across the plate with a groundout to short.

The Pack added another run in the top of the sixth. Presnell mashed a three-bagger directly inside the first base line, and Ishibashi pushed up another sac-fly, this time to deep center. Mackenzie Mangum also demolished a pinch-hit double into the left-center gap.

The Dolphins added one run in the bottom of the fifth when Kayla Ouellet drilled an RBI base hit into right center.

State will return to the field this coming weekend, beginning ACC play by hosting Boston College at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium.