NC State
3-5
Texas A&M
6-2
Softball Narrowly Falls to No. 15 Texas A&M
2/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 18, 2012
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - NC State (3-5) held No. 15 Texas A&M (6-2) to four hits, but committed four errors and fell to the Aggies by a score of 3-2 in the Pack's final game of the Aggie Classic in College Station, Texas.
Emily Weimanwent the distance for the Wolfpack in the circle, surrendering two earned runs off of five hits. She struck out seven Aggie hitters in the contest.
Katie Mansilla continued her hot hitting in the game, pacing the Pack at the plate by going 2-for-4. Scout Albertson and Bethaney Wellsalso notched base hits for the Pack.
"We had a lot of fight tonight," said head coach Lisa Navas. "We're making a lot of mistakes right now that are hurting us, but we will bounce back. Emily has been pitching great, and we need to support her better."
Mansilla opened the game for NC State with a hit and moved to second on a base knock by Albertson. Both runners moved into scoring position on the ground ball by Leah Jones, but the next hitter, Landon Warrenwas unable to push the run across. After the top of the first, the game remained scoreless.
Texas A&M got on the board in the bottom of the first, notching no hits but taking advantage of three Wolfpack errors to take a 1-0 lead in the contest.
The Aggies extended their lead in the second frame thanks to a home run by Sydney Shannon and one Pack defensive miscue. Albertson, though, made an outstanding unassisted double play to end the frame and get Weiman out of a bases loaded jam. After two innings, the Aggies held a 2-0 lead.
Weiman struck out the side in the fourth inning, but the Pack still trailed 2-0 heading into the fifth frame.
Meagan May knocked her third home run of the 2012 season in the fifth inning to give the Aggies a 3-0 lead. Weiman, though, retired the next two Texas A&M hitters to keep the Aggie lead at 3-0.
Mansilla led off the sixth with her second base hit of the day, then moved to second on a ground ball by Toni Ann Williford. Next, Albertson and Jones reached on back-to-back Aggie errors and were both moved to scoring position by a nice sacrifice bunt by Landon Warren. An illegal pitch plated Albertson to pull the Pack within one run at 3-2.
Caitlin Dent drew a walk to lead off the seventh inning and was replaced by pinch runner Kelsey Hoover. Hoover was then thrown out at second on the fielders choice by Wells. The next batter, Kirsty Grant, fanned for the second out of the inning. Mansilla lined out for the final out of the game.
The Pack returns to action next weekend to host the Wolfpack Challenge and open its home portion of the 2012 schedule.
"We are looking forward to opening up our home schedule next weekend in Raleigh and playing in some good weather," said Navas.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sisk, Lindsey (3-1)
L: Weiman, Emily (3-5)
Batting:
SH: Warren, Landon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mansilla, Katie 1 ; Albertson, Scout 1
Batting:
HR: May, Meagan 1 ; Shannon, Sydney 1
RBI: May, Meagan 1 ; Shannon, Sydney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Villarreal, Natalie 1 ; May, Meagan 1 ; Shannon, Sydney 1
