Softball Falls to Utah State

Friday, February 10

Athens, Ga.

11:00 AM

NC State

0-1

Utah State

1-0

NC State

Utah State

2/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 10, 2012

ATHENS, Ga. - Softball opened the 2012 season in Athens, Ga. in the Red and Black Showcase by falling to Utah State 5-6.

Morgan Peeler got the start in the circle for NC State, surrendering four runs off of five hits in six innings of work.

Leah Jones was the offensive leader for the Pack, going 2-for-3 with three RBI in the contest. Bethaney Wells and Kirsty Grant were responsible for driving in the other two NC State runs,

Landon Warren posted the Pack's first hit of the 2012 season in the top of the first inning by sneaking a single past the infield. Renada Davis followed with a walk to put runners on first and second for Wells. After fouling off multiple pitches, she then belted a single to plate Warren and put the Wolfpack on top 1-0.

Kassandra Uchida led off the bottom of the first for Utah State with a double. Peeler then issued two walks to load the bases, but was able to induce a ground ball double play and pop out to end the inning. After one inning of play, the Wolfpack still held a 1-0 lead over Utah State.

The Pack notched two base hits in the second inning, but was unable to push any runs across. In the bottom half of the frame, Peeler struck out two of the three batters she faced, and the Pack remained on top 1-0.

In the top of the third inning, sophomore Leah Jones smashed her first career home run, a three-run shot, to give the Pack a 4-0 lead over the Aggies.

Kali Cancelosi notched an RBI single in the third inning to put Utah State on the board. Peeler, though, retired the next two Aggie hitters to preserve the Wolfpack lead at 4-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Utah State scored on a wild pitch to pull within two runs at 4-2.

Warren led off the seventh with a walk and advanced to second on Davis' bunt for a base hit. Jones then reached on a fielders choice to load the bases. The next batter, Grant, lifted a sacrifice fly to score Warren and increase the Pack lead to 5-2.

Utah State then mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning, posting four runs to defeat the Wolfpack on a walk-off double by Cancelosi.

The Pack returns to action at 1 p.m., taking on St. John's in the second game of the Red and Black Showcase. Stay tuned to Gametracker on GoPack.com and the @PackSoftball Twitter for in-game updates.