Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
NC State
Wolfpack Stops Falcons, 2-1
March 21, 2004 | Softball
March 21, 2004
MARIETTA, Ga. - North Carolina State University avenged an earlier loss to the Bowling Green State University softball team, downing the Falcons by a 2-1 score Sunday morning (March 21). The game was a quarterfinal-round contest in the 25-team Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech.
With the win, the Wolfpack, seeded eighth following pool play, improves to 16-15 on the year and advances to the semifinal round to face Connecticut. The Falcons, the top seed for the Buzz Classic, drop to 10-11 and finish weekend play with a 4-1 record.
N.C. State got two third-inning runs, which proved to be enough for the win. The Falcons got a run back in the bottom of that inning, but could not get the equalizer.
The Wolfpack got a leadoff double from Renee Lacroix in the third inning. After a walk, Heather Gelbard singled home the first run of the game. Then, Falcon sophomore Liz Vrabel struck out back-to-back batters, but Jennifer Chamberlin reached on an error as Lee Hasper scored an unearned run.
The first run in that third inning marked the first earned run allowed by BGSU pitching in 27 2/3 innings. The Falcons had a team ERA of 0.22 on the weekend at the Buzz Classic.
BGSU got a run back with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Freshman Jeanine Baca singled, and came all the way around to score on a double by sophomore Lindsay Heimrich. An infield single by sophomore Gina Rango moved Heimrich to third, but N.C. State starting pitcher Shaina Ervin got a grounder to short for the third out.
Rango hit .647 on the weekend, with 11 hits in 17 at-bats, and was BGSU's lone representative to the all-tournament team.
The Wolfpack threatened to increase the lead in the fifth inning. After a single and an error put two runners on base, Chamberlin singled up the middle with two outs. But, BG shortstop Jenifer Kernahan relayed centerfielder Baca's throw to nail pinch-runner Beth Poore at the plate, with catcher Abby Habicht applying the tag to end the inning.
Heimrich doubled in the bottom of the fifth, chasing Ervin from the game. But, reliever Carla Shepherd came on to get the final two outs of the inning.
The Falcons again tried to mount a threat in the sixth, as junior Kristen Anderson led off with a single and took second on freshman Ashley Zirkle's sacrifice. But, Shepherd again got two-straight outs to end the inning, and retired the side in order in the seventh.
BGSU outhit the Wolfpack, 7-6, with Heimrich and Zirkle each picking up a pair of hits. Zirkle was 2-for-2 with the sac bunt, while both of Heimrich's hits were of the two-base variety.
Vrabel took the loss despite allowing only one earned run and six hits in a complete-game effort. She walked just one batter while striking out eight.
Ervin picked up the win for the Wolfpack, allowing one run and six hits in four-and-a-third innings. Shepherd got the final eight outs, allowing only one hit, to get a save.
The teams had faced each other to open tourney play Friday afternoon (March 19), with the Falcons posting a 6-2 win in that game.
The Falcons now return north for five road games next week. BGSU will head to Ann Arbor to face nationally-ranked Michigan in a Wednesday (March 24) doubleheader, then will meet Toledo in a three-game weekend series to open Mid-American Conference play. The Falcons and Rockets are scheduled to play a pair of games Saturday (March 27) and a single contest Sunday (March 28) in the Glass City.
