Softball Takes Nightcap From Coastal Carolina, 7-2

Wednesday, April 23

Raleigh, N.C.

6:00 PM

NC State

29-23

Coastal Carolina

18-35

Coastal Carolina

NC State

Softball Takes Nightcap From Coastal Carolina, 7-2

4/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. NC State completed a doubleheader sweep of Coastal Carolina with a 7-2 decision in the nightcap at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium on Wednesday, April 23. Claudia Cooper and Mackenzie Mangum both drove in two runs while Alyssa Allbritten had two hits.

The win moves the Pack to 29-23 on the year, while the Chanticleers fall to 18-35.

State is now just one win shy of picking up its 30th of the year, something it has obtained in each of its previous four seasons in existence.

Mendy McKenzie (12-8) got the win with eight K’s, while Michelle Evans (3-10) took the loss.

Allison Cantrell put Coastal up early with an RBI double in the top of the first, but State tied things immediately in the bottom half of the inning when Mangum drew a bases loaded walk with two outs.

McKenzie gave up three free passes to load the bases for the Chanticleers with one out in the top of the third. Cantrell then sent a routine pop fly into shallow center, but neither Shanna Smith nor Blair Harkey called the other off and the ball fell out of Smith’s glove as the two collided, allowing one run to score.

The Pack counterpunched with two runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. Allbritten singled up the middle, and Cooper brought her around with a double into the right-center gap. Mangum later pushed an RBI base into right-center, scoring Allison Presnell from second to give State its first and final lead.

Four runs, two hits and an error made things rather comfy for State in the bottom of the fourth. Smith walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single up the middle from Ashleigh Davis. Cooper then brought Davis in with sac-fly to deep right, and Presnell plated another run with a double to center. A final run came around when Kristine Bechtholdt reached on a two-out E6.

The Chanticleers had runners on second and third with two down in the top of the fifth, but Smith made a sensational catch against the wall in foul territory to prevent Coastal from adding to its score.

The game stands as the final home performance for the Pack's 2008 senior class.
 
“I was really happy with our performance today,” said head coach Lisa Navas. “It was very bittersweet to watch our seniors play in their final home games.”

This weekend State will end its regular season with a three-game ACC set against Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. The Pack will take on the Seminoles for two games on Saturday, April 26 beginning at 2 p.m., before playing the closer on Sunday, April 27, at 12 noon. Live stats for the entire series will be available via GoPack.com.