Softball Suffers Loss at Hands of Houston
April 19, 2003 | Softball
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The East Carolina University softball team dropped its final game of a three-game series with Houston this afternoon by a score of 10-2.
Both teams remained scoreless in the first two innings. In the bottom of the third, East Carolina put its first run on the board when Lacassa Hill hit her second home run of the weekend. After Hill's homer, Kristin Johnson singled to left field and then Christine Sheridan walked, and the Pirates' found themselves in a scoring position once again. Houston then brought in relief pitcher Jenny Johnson, who struck out Kate Manuse to end the inning.
With one out in the fifth inning, Stacey Smith singled to right field and soon found herself at second base when Mandi Nichols singled up the middle. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Lara Brickhouse came up to bat, but popped up to the first baseman to end the inning with two runners left on base.
Houston's first big inning was the fifth when the Cougars added five runs to the board. Kim Nesloney came to the plate and doubled to right center field. The next batter, Michelle Keith was hit by a pitch and the Cougars had runners at first and second. Houston's third batter of the inning reached on a fielder's choice and Nesloney was out at third. The next Houston batter walked, leaving the bases loaded when Jaci Gonzalez stepped up to the plate. Gonzalez singled to center field, sending in two runs. East Carolina would then change pitcher, bringing in Maggie Lingo to replace Brently Bridgeforth. Lingo faced three batters, allowing three hit and one earned run before she was relieved by Brittany Boyd. Boyd ended the inning striking out one batter as the next popped up to the short stop, and the Pirates' found themselves down 5-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, ECU added its final run of the game, with Smith on third base, Brickhouse grounded out to the second baseman, allowing Smith to score.
Houston had another five run inning in the seventh. The first two runs came when Kristen Glowacz hit her 13th home run of the season deep over the left center field wall. Then, with runners on first and second, Keith hit her third homer of the season to give Houston the 10-2 lead. East Carolina would not be able to add another run to the board in the bottom of the seventh and would be handed its 16th conference loss of the season.
Hill, Sheridan, Smith and Nichols each had two hits for East Carolina in the game. Brently Bridgeforth was credited with the loss, dropping her to 8-10 on the season. Jenny Johnson earned her 11th win for Houston.
East Carolina will next host Liberty in a non-conference doubleheader this Wednesday, April 23 at 2 p.m. Those games will be played at the ECU Softball Field.
