April 28, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. --- NC State sophomore pitcher Abbie Sims struck out 13 batters in a complete-game one-hit shutout to defeat the University of North Carolina softball team, 1-0, in the rubber game of the Atlantic Coast Conference series Thursday night at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. The Tar Heels will enter the league tournament with a record of 36-25, 9-9 in the ACC, while the Wolfpack improves to 40-23, 7-7 ACC.

NC State got the scoring started quickly, as leadoff hitter Heather Gelbard drove Cox's second pitch of the game over the fence in left to make the score 1-0. That hit, Gelbard's fifth homer of the year, would prove to be the game-winner.

UNC would not threaten until the fourth, when Anna Evans was hit by a pitch and Jessica Young walked. The two then advanced to second and third on a passed ball to give the Tar Heels their first runners in scoring position for the night. But Sims (19-7) induced a pair of groundouts to end the rally.

UNC would put multiple runners on base again in the fifth and sixth. In the top of the fifth, Whitney Gelin walked and advanced to second on a Theresa Nicholas sacrifice. Joslin Higgins then blooped a single into right for the Carolina's first hit of the game off of Sims. But Sims struck out Palmer and pinch-hitter Erica Ennis to keep the Tar Heels off the board. In the sixth, Young and Jennifer Jacobs drew walks, but a Gelin strikeout ended the inning.

It appeared that NC State would add some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. After back-to-back singles and a walk, the Pack had the bases loaded with no outs. That brought Sims to the plate, just one day after winning the series opener with a grand slam. But Cox got Sims to pop out, and struck out Jennifer Patterson for the second out of the inning. During the next at-bat, Shanna Smith attempted to score from third during a throw back to Cox, but was caught stealing to end the frame.

Carolina, however, was unable to run with the momentum of escaping the bases loaded jam. After a one out walk by Higgins, Palmer worked the count to 3-1. But after a visit to the circle by State coach Lisa Navas, Sims got Palmer to foul out to first for the second out of the inning. Marissa May then struck out swinging, Sims' 13th of the game, to end it, giving NC State their first-ever series win against UNC.

The Tar Heels will now take a 13-day break for final exams before traveling to College Park, Md., for the ACC Tournament May 12-15.