Softball Wins Rubber Match at No. 19 UNC, 5-1

Sunday, March 28

Chapel-Hill, N.C.

1:00 PM

NC State

20-15, 3-3

North Carolina

24-10, 4-5

NC State

North Carolina

3/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – NC State found a way to win its biggest game of the 2010 campaign to date, downing No. 19 North Carolina on its home field to take the rubber match of a pivotal three-game ACC series on Sunday, March 28. The win moves the Wolfpack to 20-15 (3-3 ACC) on the year, while the Tar Heels slide to 24-10 (4-5 ACC).

“I’m just so proud of the kids,” said head coach Lisa Navas. “They played well and were really focused. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come the rest of the season.

“We had solid defense and timely hitting today, and it was just awesome.”

Lindsay Campana (14-5) got her second victory in as many days, becoming just the second pitcher in the country to toss more than one win against UNC this year. Georgia Tech’s Hope Rush did it a handful of weeks ago.

Campana went the distance, fanning six and scattering just three hits. North Carolina’s lone run was unearned.

In two complete game wins in Chapel Hill this weekend, Campana allowed just one earned run and eight hits. She added 15 K’s to her resume.

Amber Johnson (15-8) took the loss, allowing three earned runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Danielle Spaulding started in the circle for UNC but was lifted with two out in the top of the second. She allowed one earned run.

Allison Presnell had a huge day for the NC State offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a home run. Alyssa Ishibashi went 2-for-2, while Alyssa Allbritten, Landon Warren and Claudia Cooper all drove one run in.

On the defensive end, both Bridget Desbois and Katie Mansilla made several sensational defensive plays on the left side of the infield.

The Wolfpack got one run in the top of the second and owned momentum the rest of the way. Stephanie Call drew a leadoff walk and was replaced at first by Krystal Hawkins, who took second on a Desbois sac-bunt. Allbritten then roped a two-bagger into left-center, putting the Pack ahead 1-0.

Spaulding issued a two-out walk to Ishibashi later in the inning and got yanked in favor of Johnson.

The Tar Heels leadoff runner reached third in the bottom of the second, but back-to-back Campana K’s kept UNC off the scoreboard.

North Carolina tied the score in the bottom of the third with a hit and an error. Christine Knauer reached on a bunt single back to the circle and swiped second. Knauer then scored from second when Mansilla’s throw from short on an Ally Blake grounder pulled Call off of the bag.

Clutching hitting and patience at the dish aided the Pack in scoring three runs in the top of the fourth to pull back ahead 4-1. Desbois got things going by plopping a double down the right line, and Samantha Melton came on to run in her place. Allbritten then reached when Constance Orr couldn’t handle a routine grounder at first, and Melton moved to third. Presnell singled through the right side, scoring Melton and putting NC State back up 2-1.

Ishibashi followed with a single to juice the bags, and Warren later brought in another run with an RBI knock. The Pack got its third run of the frame when Cooper picked up a free pass with the bases loaded.

The Tar Heels put runners on second and third in the bottom of the fourth, but Campana extinguished another premium scoring opportunity by striking out Haleigh Dickey and inducing an inning-ending fly ball from Brittany Robinson.

Presnell’s third bomb of the year made it a 5-1 Wolfpack affair in the top of the fifth, and UNC never threatened again.

NC State will host Boston College next weekend, April 2-3, at the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium. The first game of Friday’s twin bill will serve as the Pack’s “Power in Pink” breast cancer awareness event.