GREENSBORO, NC – NC State used a three-run home run in the seventh inning from Miranda Ervin to take a 7-1 victory over UNC Greensboro in softball doubleheader action at UNCG Softball Stadium on Thursday afternoon. The Wolfpack took an 11-1 win in the night cap to claim the doubleheader sweep.

NC State (31-16) got on the board first in game one with a run in the top of the third inning. UNCG pitcher Vanessa Oakes walked left fielder Meghan Dalthorp to put a runner on base. She advanced to second with a sacrifice bunt from Laura Klem and was plated on an error by UNCG catcher Whitney Sirois.

NC State used a three-run inning to extend their lead to 4-0 in the top of the sixth inning. The Wolfpack had a leadoff single from pitcher Abbie Sims. The Pack followed that with a double from Dalthorp which advanced Sims to third base. Klem loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch and a RBI single from Heather Gelbard plated Sims. Gelbard and Klem crossed home plate with an RBI single from Jen Chamberlain two batters later.

The Pack added three more runs on four hits in the sixth inning to push their lead to 7-0. Wolfpack pitcher Abbie Sims had a no-hitter going through the seventh inning but UNCG third baseman Kara Clouser hit a bomb over the right field wall to give UNCG (21-27) their only run of the game and cut the lead to 7-1.

Oakes suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on 10 hits. She issued four walks and had two strikeouts on the afternoon. Clouser led the Spartans from the plate by going 3-for-1 with one run scored.

In the nightcap the Wolfpack again got on the scoreboard first with a run in the first inning. Gelbard opened the inning with a leadoff single through right field. Krystal Hawkins, who was pinch running for Gelbard, stole second base and was plated with a single from Allison Presnell.

The Spartans responded with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Lyndsey Wilson hit a single through the right side and Brandi Schnute followed with a double which brought Wilson around the bases. That was as close as the Spartans would get as NC State tallied 10 more runs to take the game by a score of 11-1.

Amber Harrell suffered the loss after allowing 11 runs on 11 hits in 6.0 innings of work. Hannah Angel pitched 1.0 innings in relief and allowed no runs.

Wilson led the Spartans from the plate going 1-for-1 while freshman Emily Akiyama tallied her first collegiate hit in the nightcap.

The Spartans are next in action April 14-15 when they head to Cullowhee, NC, to take on Southern Conference rival, Western Carolina. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm on Saturday.

AGATE
GAME ONE
NC State 001 003 3 -  7 10  1     
UNCG................ 000 000 1 -  1  1  1    

Pitchers: NC State - Abbie Sims; Krystal Hawkins(8). UNCG - Oakes,Vanessa.
Win-Abbie Sims(19-5)  Loss-Oakes,Vanessa(8-8)  T-1:50  A-250
E-Klem; Sirois. LOB-NCST 9, UNCG 4. 2B-Chamberlain; Dalthorp. HR NCST - Miranda Ervin. HR UNCG - Clouser,Kara.  SH-Ervin M; Klem; Greenway. SB-Smith; Dalthorp.

GAME TWO
NC State 100 113 5 - 11 12  0
UNCG................ 010 000 0 -  1  4  1

Pitchers: NC State - Shaina Ervin. UNCG - Harrell,Amber; Angel,Hannah(7).
Win-Shaina Ervin  Loss-Harrell,Amber   T-2:19  A-0
E-Schnute. LOB NCST 6; UNCG 5. 2B-Gelbard; Patterson; Davis; Schnute.HR NCST - Allison Presnell; Megan Dalthorp. HBP-Davis. SF-Davis SB-Hawkins, Presnell, Greenway 2. CS-Branche
Harrell faced 5 batters in the 7th.

- UNCG -