Softball Opens Season with Victory

Friday, February 11

Clearwater, Fla.

4:00 PM

NC State

1-0

Florida Gulf Coast

0-1

NC State

Florida Gulf Coast

2/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 11, 2011

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Freshman Kayla Cox posted a strong outing in her first career start and Bridget Desbois went 4-for-4 with three runs batted in as NC State (1-0) opened the 2011 season victoriously against Florida Gulf Coast (0-1) on Friday, Feb. 11 in Clearwater Fla.

Cox gave up two runs on three hits and struck out 10 batters in seven innings of work in her first game for the Wolfpack.

The NC State offense came out swinging in the first inning. After the first two outs were recorded, Alyssa Allbritten reached on an error by Jessica Barnes, and Bethaney Wells followed with a walk. Then, Caitlin Dent and Desbois ripped back-to-back singles, driving in Allbritten and Wells, putting the Pack up 3-0.

The Pack padded its lead in the third inning, when Desbois drove in Allbritten, who reached base on a walk.

FGCU got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when leadoff hitter Tori Williams opened the frame with a triple and later crossed the plate thanks to a Barnes sacrifice fly. Cox retired the next two batters, though, preserving the Pack's 3-1 advantage.

In the fourth inning, Alyssa Ishibashi belted a double, then was plated by a Williford single, increasing the NC State lead to 5-1. That margin was extended, 6-1, in the fifth inning when Chelsea Tate scored off of an Allbritten sacrifice fly.

Florida Gulf Coast pulled within four in the bottom of the sixth inning after Courtney Platt led off the inning with a triple and later scored on a sacrifice fly.

NC State continued to put runs on the board in the seventh inning. Desbois sustained her strong showing at the plate, opening the frame with a triple. Freshman Leah Jones then reached base on an error, and Chelsea Hartsell earned a base hit in her first career plate appearance, driving in Desbois to extend NC State's lead to 8-2.

Williford went 2-for-4 for the Wolfpack with two RBI in the contest.

The Wolfpack will take the field again tonight at 8 p.m. against Long Island.