April 9, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. – Junior Sarah Wood (12-5) worked 5.1 strong innings, allowing three hits and one earned run, striking out two in the opener and NC State (35-15, 8-4 ACC) used a four-run sixth inning in the nightcap to defeat the Yellow Jackets (33-14, 7-5 ACC) as the teams split an Atlantic Coast Conference softball doubleheader, 4-3 and 3-7, on Sunday at Walnut Creek Softball Complex.
Sophomore Savannah Brown led the Yellow Jackets in game one at the plate, smacking the game-winning two-run home run in the sixth inning, finishing the game 1-for-3, with two runs batted in. Sophomore Aileen Morales went 1-for-2, with a double and two RBIs.
Freshman Lacey Richardson picked up her second save of the season, throwing the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on just one hit.
Freshman Blair Shimandle led the Tech bats in the nightcap, going 2-for-3, with a home run (2) and three RBIs. Wood (12-6) took the loss the nightcap, throwing the final 2.0 innings, allowing three hits and four runs. Richardson got a no decision, working 4.0 innings, giving up six hits and three runs.
In game one, the Wolfpack broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder with two outs to allow a run to cross the plate.
Sophomore Aileen Morales drove in two runs for the Jackets in the top of the fourth inning with a two-out double to left-center field to give Tech its first lead of the series, 2-1.
Sophomore Savannah Brown connected on a two-run blast to right-center field in the top of the sixth inning, her eighth of the season, to increase the Jackets’ lead to three, 4-1.
NCSU’s Jenn Chamberlin hit a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring the Pack within two, 4-2. Haller entered the circle for the Jackets after a walk by Wood. Haller hit the next batter to put runners on first and second with one out. After another walk by Haller, Richardson entered the circle to try and get out of a bases loaded, one out jam. Richardson registered a big strikeout for the second out and induced a foul out to left field to preserve Tech’s lead by two.
The Wolfpack’s Tess Corona led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a home run to left field to cut Tech’s lead down to just one run, 4-3. Richardson then retired three straight to pick up the save for the Yellow Jackets.
Tech scored four runs, on three hits and committed two errors, while NC State scored three runs, on four hits and had no errors.
In game two, the Pack took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run home run by Lisa Nentwig.
Shimandle gave the Jackets their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth inning with a three-run homer to center field, her second of the season, as Tech led 3-2.
The Wolfpack’s Chamberlin crushed a solo shot to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at 3-3. After a walk, Wood entered the circle for the Jackets and recorded consecutive outs to retire the side and advance the game to the sixth inning tied.
Sophomore Stephanie Butler doubled down the left field line which sent the runner from first base around to score, but was forced to return to third base since the ball went out of play due to the fence not stretching in foul ground in the top of the sixth inning as the game remained tied at 3-3.
The Pack pushed a run across in the bottom of the sixth inning as Shanna Smith drove one to first base and Tech’s Kristina Hull made a nice stab but could not make the throw to home plate as the Jackets trailed 4-3. Chamberlin then singled to right field to plate another run, and Abbie Sims drove in the fourth run of the inning to give the Pack a 7-3 lead.
Tech scored three runs, on eight hits and committed one error, while the Pack scored seven runs, on nine hits and had two errors.
The Yellow Jackets will return to Atlanta for six games next week at Glenn Field. Tech will face Georgia Southern on Tuesday for a single game at 4 p.m. The Jackets will then face Furman in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday and welcome Boston College for a three-game ACC series over the weekend.
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