University of North Carolina Athletics
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NC State
Wolfpack Blanks Tar Heels In Doubleheader Sweep
April 21, 2007 | Softball
April 21, 2007
RALEIGH, N.C. --- North Carolina failed to score a run in dropping both games of a key Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader against rival NC State Saturday afternoon at Walnut Creek Softball Complex, falling 3-0 in the opener and 5-0 in the nightcap. With the two losses, UNC (41-14, 10-6 ACC) moved from second place in the conference standings into a three-way tie for third with Georgia Tech and Florida State, while NC State (38-16, 12-5 ACC) now sits alone in second position and has won a school-record 14 straight games.
The story of the day was the NC State pitching as the Tar Heels managed just four hits combined in the two games, including a one-hit effort in the game two.
In the early going of the first game, it was quite the pitcher's duel as NC State's Abbie Sims and North Carolina's Lisa Norris managed to keep any offense in the game to a minimum.
UNC mounted the game's first real scoring threat in the top of the fifth, using a one-out walk and an Anna Evans single to put two Tar Heels on base. One out later, a passed ball helped the runners advance to second and third, but Sims was able to induce a groundout to first from Joslin Higgins to escape the frame without damage.
The Wolfpack finally did scratch against Norris in its half of the fifth, plating two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Two walks - including one to lead off the inning - two NC State base hits and a wild pitch did the damage, and the game went to the sixth with Carolina in a two-run hole.
UNC threatened to get the runs right back, using a one-out bunt single from Cassie Palmer and a two-out walk from Casey Testa to again put two runners on. But a flyout to left field from Jennifer Jacobs closed the door on the Tar Heel attack in the sixth.
NC State tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth, converting an Allison Presnell leadoff single into its third run when Miranda Ervin sprayed a two-out bloop single down the right field line that landed just fair.
Sims made sure the three-run cushion would stand up, setting down the UNC side in the seventh to move her record to 23-5 on the season. She pitched all seven innings, allowing just three UNC hits and fanning seven Tar Heels, in picking up the complete game shutout.
Norris pitched six innings and gave up six hits in falling to 23-9.
Game two saw the Wolfpack jump on UNC early to the tune of three runs in the bottom of the first. Presnell again came up big for NC State in the inning, picking up two RBI on a one-out triple to left field. She later came home to score on a sacrifice fly as well, making the score 3-0 after one.
Wolfpack starter Shaina Ervin kept the UNC offense under wraps all afternoon, holding the Tar Heels hitless after a first-inning infield single by Breanna Brown.
She received some additional run support in the bottom of the third when NC State designated player Heather Gelbard sent a solo home run over the fence in centerfield to make the score 4-0 Wolfpack. Kristine Bechtoldt added a solo shot of her own to right field in the bottom of the sixth, making up the final 5-0 tally.
Ervin struck out seven Tar Heels as part of her one-hit shutout, which took her record to 13-10 on the season. Danielle Spaulding picked up her first loss of the year for UNC, falling to 5-1 as she gave up four runs on four hits in two innings of work. Amber Johnson pitched four innings and gave up one run in relief.
By virtue of playing in both games Saturday, Anna Evans became UNC's career leader in games played with 249. She broke the previous mark held by current volunteer coach Emily Price, who appeared in 248 games for the Tar Heels.
The Tar Heels and the Wolfpack will lock heads again in game three of the series Sunday at 12 p.m.
