SoftballPack salvages final game of Georgia Tech series
After losing the first two games of the series at No. 20 Georgia Tech, No. 23 N.C. State on Sunday took down the Yellow Jackets 9-6 on the strength of a school-record-tying five home runs.
Senior pitcher Abbie Sims belted two home runs, while freshman outfielder Allison Presnell, junior shortstop Shanna Smith and senior catcher Miranda Ervin hit one home run each.
The Wolfpack lost the first two games of the series — a Saturday doubleheader — 11-10 and 4-1, respectively.
Next up for the Pack is a two-game home series against East Carolina. State will host the doubleheader Wednesday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Following the ECU games, State will travel to Virginia Tech for a road ACC series, playing a doubleheader on Saturday, March 31, at noon and 2 p.m., and the series finale Sunday, April 1 at 1 p.m.
-Brian Grossman
Men’s GolfAction continues at Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate
N.C. State finds itself in 14th place after the first two rounds of play in Awendaw, S.C. The Wolpfack notched a score of 22-over in the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate. State will play the final round today.
State on Monday shot a nine-over 293 in the second round, improving on its first-round score by four strokes.
Senior Garry Hill is pacing the Pack through two rounds. Hill shot a four-over 75 in Monday’s second round, and is three-over par for the tournament.
Senior Jerry Richardson and sophomore Andrew Byrd were the highlights of the second round for State. Richardson notched two birdies and finished with a one-over 72. Byrd also shot a one-over 72, and finds himself at four-over for the tournament, good for second place among Pack golfers — behind only Hill.
-Brian Grossman
Track & FieldPack nets seven NCAA marks
N.C. State notched seven NCAA regional marks this weekend at the Wake Forest Open. The Wolfpack men nailed down six marks, and the Pack women tallied one of their own.
The men’s team won both the shot put and steeplechase events. In the steeplechase, State took the top three times — Tibor Vegh won with a time of 8:57.15, John Martinez took second with a time of 8:59.06, and Bryce Ruiz took third with a time of 9:06.55. All three times qualified for the NCAA Regionals.
Mitchell Pope won the shot put with a throw of 62-feet-1-inch. Pope also qualified in the hammer throw, with a distance of 184-feet-5-inches.
Martinez was the last men’s team member to earn a qualifying mark, taking fourth in the 1,500 with a time of 3:54.01.
For the women, senior Kristina Roth took second in the steeplechase with a time of 10:41.31, which was good enough to qualify Roth for the NCAA Regionals.
-Brian Grossman
GymnasticsEAGL All-Academic Team includes 12 from State
East Atlantic Gymnastics League officials on Monday released the EAGL All-Academic team, composed of 96 athletes from member schools. N.C. State had 12 gymnasts named to the team — 10 of whom were repeat honorees.
Seniors Crisann Calvo, Amanda Jones, Rachel Katz, Brooke Outland and Suzanne Price were each named to the team for the fourth time. Junior Laurie Singer was named for the third time. Sophomores Mackenzie Payne and Elyse Adams were each named to the team for the second time.
Sophomore Jamie Mula and freshman Lauren Deuser were each named to the team for the first time.
To be eligible for the All-Academic team, athletes must earn a 3.0 GPA over their previous two semesters. Freshmen are eligible if they earn a 3.0 in their fall semester.
-Brian Grossman
SwimmingJones takes first medal
Competing in the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, former N.C. State star Cullen Jones picked up his first medal.
Jones raced the third leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay. The team of Jones, Michael Phelps, Neil Walker and Jason Lezak recorded a championship-record time of 3:12.72, earning the United States’ first gold medal of the event.
The team also holds the world record in the event, with a time of 3:12.46.
Jones will race in the 50-meter freestyle — his best event — later this week.
-Brian Grossman
