Softball Defeats Illinois ? Chicago, 4-1

Friday, March 6

Clearwater, Fla.

6:00 PM

NC State

6-6

Uic

2-13

Illinois-Chicago

NC State

3/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla.  Morgan Peeler tossed her first career win as NC State topped Illinois Chicago, 4-1, in its second game at the USF Under Armour Invitational on Friday, March 6. Hannah Ojeda went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored to lead the Wolfpack offense.

Peeler (1-1) allowed three scattered hits in five innings of work before Lindsay Campana picked up her first career save in two innings of relief. Sarah Clynes (0-6) took the loss, tossing just one complete frame before Ashley Hewitt took over for the Flames.

The win pushes State to 6-6 on the year, while Illinois Chicago falls to 2-13.

UIC drew first blood, plating a run in the top of the first on a Melissa Marinacci single into center. The damage could have been worse, but Ojeda gunned down Clynes at the plate from center earlier in the embryonic stages of the inning.

A couple of free passes with the bases loaded allowed the Pack to immediately take the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Ojeda singled through the left side and stole second, Kristine Bechtholdt walked and Bridget Desbois singled to short. State then took over when Allison Presnell and Claudia Cooper drew walks.

State added two more runs on three hits and the aid of a costly walk in the bottom of the second. Eliza Jacobellis took four balls and Alyssa Ishibashi singled. The Flames then moved Clynes to left and brought Hewitt into the circle. Ojeda greeted her with a single into left, loading the bases. Presnell later drew another bases loaded walk and Bethaney Wells chopped an RBI infield single, pushing the Pack’s lead to 4-1.

NC State will return to the field tomorrow against Hofstra at 11 a.m., with a second game time and opponent to be determined depending on how the bracket shakes out. Live stats will be provided on GoPack.com.