Game Report: #10 NCSU (0-0) vs. Maryland (1-1)

Box Score Maryland 0 1 7 3 5 0 2 18 NCState 4 5 0 1 4 0 5 19

The Wolfpack softball season didn't look like it was going to get started at all as 50-mph winds hammered our nation's capital. The only cover to be found was hiding behind the Washington Monument as the wind and rain pelted tourists running for cover. However, it was entertaining watching people doing their best imitation of Superman as the wind sent them flying through the air. It was obvious there weren't many ski jumpers in the group as some of the landings were just painful to watch. Of course, once the rain stopped and the skies cleared, tourists were running from something new, deep fly balls hit by Wolfpack batters. The team had a great turnout for their first game as 18 alums showed up for the season opener against Maryland with eight rookies coming out for their first action as Wolfpack softballers.

The Maryland athletic programs had their way with the Wolfpack in football, basketball, and baseball this season, but the softball team was determined to pick the NC State banner up and fly it high. Of course, as well as the rookies, there were also many of the veterans that you have all grown to know and love over the seasons. Once again, starting off the game on the mound was the fiery right hander Bruce Baldwin. With an assortment of breaking pitches, Baldwin put the Terps down in order in the first. They couldn't quite catch up with his fast ball and were missing the curve by a foot. The offense started the season off with a bang as Chuck Monroe hit a leadoff triple followed by a Jeffery Taylor RBI single. After an Ed Taylor homer, Greg Marlow started things back up. Thanks to hits by Clare Hackney and rookie Billy Parker, Marlow also scored giving the Pack a 4-0 lead after the first. Not a bad way to start the season. Although Greg Marlow managed to score and appeared to be in pretty good shape, he was still complaining about the team's off-season training program. "For years now I've complained about us getting some love from the athletic department. The basketball team stank, and they got a new coliseum, now they're kicking butt and taking names. The football team was struggling and they get stadium expansions. Now they're going to be one of the top teams in the country. Now the baseball stadium is getting renovations. These guys have finished in eighth and seventh the last two seasons. Now look at us. We're already kicking butt without the facilities. With our own facilities we'd rule the softball world. Man, what I wouldn't give for a sauna. My aching back."

Okay, back to the game... The Terps did manage to scratch the scoreboard for a single run in the second, but the Pack's half of the inning started off much the same as the first as five runners crossed the plate, highlighted by a homer by another rookie, Jim Smith pushing the lead to 9-1. Well, at this point, the Wolfpack bats went into hibernation as they managed to score only a single run over the next two innings after scoring nine in the first two. Maryland on the other hand started waking up offensively as they exploded for seven in the third and three more in the fourth. Before the Pack knew what hit them they found themselves facing an 11-10 deficit going into the 5th inning, where things went from bad to worse. The Terps scored five more taking a commanding 15-9 lead.

Things really looked bleak for our heroes now as they appeared to be cruising after the first two innings, but the chances of victory were all of a sudden looking slim going into the 5th. Rookie Cynthia Davis breathed life back into the Pack attack as she lead things off in the 5th by drawing a walk. Looking at a 3-2 count, the Maryland pitcher shot a nasty curveball towards the plate. Davis started to take a tear at it, but just managed to keep her arms back. A lesser player would have chased after the pitch, but showing steadfast discipline, Davis showed her excellent plate awareness as the pitch dropped off the plate. After singles by Greg Marlow and Jeffery Taylor, Matt McMahan came up with the bases loaded and tattooed one by the left-center fielder to cut the deficit to two. One more run was scored to make it a one run game.

After both offenses were shutdown in the 6th, the game went to the last inning with Maryland still leading by a single run. Things didn't look good for the Pack as the Terps put two more on the board in a hurry and had runners on 1st and 2nd with still nobody out. Then the rookie took over in the field. Three straight balls were pounded at Billy Parker playing third and he pulled off three straight force plays to take the team into the bottom of the 7th trailing only 18-15.

Jeffery Taylor lead things off with a single. After the first out was made, Ed Taylor singled, bringing up Bruce Baldwin. Strong gusts had been blowing in from left field throughout the day as the Maryland left fielder had a field day as one deep ball after another was knocked down for easy plays. Baldwin had seen enough of this however. He waited for the appropriate pitch and as soon as it left Baldwin's bat, there was no doubt that the left fielder might as well be buttered up, because he was toasted. Baldwin cleared the bases bringing the Pack back from the dead and tying the game. With still only one out, another rookie, Dan Lamm came up to the plate. Lamm hit a slow bouncer toward short, that combined with his 4.6/forty speed (OK, maybe he doesn't quite run a 4.6/forty, but I'm pretty sure there is a 6 in there somewhere) forced the shortstop to make a bad throw and Lamm got a double out of the play. Claire Hackney singled next for her second hit of the game, but Lamm was unable to advance.

Okay, we've got to break from the action now for a quick commercial break so we can get a little more insight on Claire Hackney. The one thing about bringing all of these young whipper snappers onto the team is they show the veterans just how old they are. A comment was made to Claire about Pinky Tuscadero and Claire had no idea who this was. Now don't tell me that you've never heard of Pinky? Come on, she's related to Leather Tuscadero. Now don't tell me you don't know who Leather Tuscadero is? Ya know? The do wop girls, Joanie, Ralph Mouth, Potsie, Richie Cunningham, and of course, the man.....The Fonz. Yeah, I've had people tell me I looked like the Fonz. Yep, they told me the only thing I was missing was dark hair and good looks.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program. Next stepped up Billy Parker. The softball saying has always been that if a player made a great play in the field, they would always come back and make a great offensive play that same inning. Well, Parker had made three unassisted outs the previous inning, now he was up to bat with the winning run on 2nd. Parker had singled his only previous time up, but this was his first time up in a situation with this type of pressure being applied.....an alumni game against an ACC rival with the whole team depending on him. Yep, you won't run into many situations in life that put more pressure on you than that. All Parker needed was a single to score Lamm, but he put everything he had into it scorching one over the left fielder's head and clearing the bases giving the Pack the win.

The Pack's next opponent is South Carolina on Wednesday, May 29. Contact Ed Taylor at taylor.edward@pbgc.gov if you want the game details.