Game Report: NCSU (4-3) vs. Fla. State (0-7)

Box Score FSU 3 0 0 0 0 6 0 9 NC State 4 0 0 0 0 6 - 10

Every now and then an opponent appears on your schedule at a time that makes it impossible for your team to be ready to play. Such was the scenario when the Wolfpack faced Florida State at the annual ACC picnic.

All of the elements were in place for NC State to be the victim of an upset. The Wolfpack was just coming off a shocking thrashing of last season's champion Penn State, three days earlier. Plus, an hour after the completion of their contest with Florida State, archrival North Carolina would step on the diamond with the Wolfpack for a battle of epic proportions. Did the State softball team enter the FSU game still basking in the glory of their victory over Penn State? Possibly. Were the players overlooking the Seminoles, who were 0-7 entering the game, as they looked ahead to another opportunity to spank the crew in baby blue? Maybe. Whatever the reason, NC State came out flatter than a fifty cent pancake.

Things didn't start off well for the Pack on defense as they gave up three quick ones in the first inning. However, the Pack responded in the way only a true champion could. Chuck Monroe singled to lead things off, followed by hits from Jeffery Taylor, Bruce Baldwin and Claire Hackney. The Pack went into the second inning leading four to three.

	Bruce Baldwin serves up another vicious strike against FSU.

Well fortunately, the play-by-play write up for this game is a piece of cake. Both pitchers were throwing a variety of unimaginable breaking stuff, and high-speed fast balls that left vapor trails in their wake. Yes, we move to the top of the 6th inning and the score is still, yep you guessed it, 4-3 Wolfpack. Oh, I know what you're thinking. There must have been some unbelievable defense being played. Infielders must have been making diving stops and turning double plays with the greatest of ease. Outfielders must have been making basket catches Willie Mays style, with their eyes closed even. I wish I could say it was true. But seriously, if you think that the fact these two teams could only muster seven runs between the two of them had anything to do with defense, I want some of what you've been drinking. Seven total runs after five innings in a softball game? These two teams couldn't have hit their way out of a paper bag. Wait, that's not totally accurate. The Wolfpack batters couldn't hit their way out of a paper bag. FSU on the other hand was pounding the ball. The NC State defense was flawless however, as they performed magnificently, incredibly even.

In the 6th however, the bubble burst. Yep, you can only expect to hold a team to three runs in a slow pitch softball game for so long. The Seminoles exploded for six runs taking what appeared to be a commanding 9-4 lead going into the bottom of the 6th. The Seminole players were already in victory mode as the tomahawk chops were being fully displayed. It looked like the party was over for the Pack. However, some of the Pack players had no intentions of losing this game. Bruce Baldwin started a slight flicker with a lead-off triple. Leon Duncan added a little gas to the flame with a single, cutting the lead to 9-5. After Claire Hackney got on, the Pack rally appeared to be snuffed as the next two batters flied out. Cassie Duncan came up with two on and two out and did a clutch job of getting on base and loading the bases. Greg Marlow then delivered a clutch single to make it a three run game.

The veteran Matt McMahan stepped up to bat next with the bases still loaded and two outs, and the Pack still facing a three run deficit. As he has done so many times in his NC State softball career, Matt hit a towering shot over the left fielders head. Ok. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. Matt hit a hard shot that just got over the left fielder's head. Alright, maybe that's not entirely correct either. The truth is, I don't know what the Florida State left fielder was smoking, but it appeared to have some nasty effects as nobody was playing within 50 yards of the left field line. Matt then poked a shot down the line and chugged around the bases using his impressive 5.9/40 speed to record a grand slam.

The Pack defense put the Seminoles down in order to complete the 10-9 come from behind victory. With the win, the Pack improved their record to 5-3 and prepared for the big battle with the North Carolina Tar Heels.