ECU Wins Holiday Inn Express/Pirate Clash Championship
March 07, 2004 | Softball
ECU scored one run in the top of the second on a Lara Brickhouse double to center field. ECU grabbed a 2-0 lead on a Christine Sheridan single to center field scoring Kristen Johnson from second.
JMU cut ECU's lead in half as Ashlee Schenk singled with two outs in the bottom of the third and moved to third on a double to right center by Katie George. Schenk would score later as Kelly Berkemeier singled up the middle.
ECU came right back in the top of the fourth and pushed its advantage back to two, at 3-1, on an Andiey Acosta RBI double.
JMU stranded a pair of runners in the third and in the fourth inning and left a total of six runners on-base.
Acosta had an RBI single in the top of the fifth to put the Pirates ahead 4-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, James Madison gave the Pirates a scare with a two-run inning. Natalie Burd led off with a single to right field and advanced to second on an errant throw by the right fielder. Briana Carrera brought Burd in with a triple to right field. Ashlee Shenk hit Burd in with her hit up the middle. The Pirates retired the next three batters to clinch the victory.
Maggie Lingo added another win to her record, pitching five innings and allowing one earned run. Keli Harrell picked up the save for ECU.
In the first on Sunday, ECU rolled past Rider, 5-3. Jumping out in the first inning, Christine Sheridan hit a two-run double to left center. The third run of the inning came when Krista Jessup hit a single to right center, bringing in Sheridan.
The Pirates scored their final two runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Kaycie Maines and Lacassa Hill were both walked, followed by a single from Kristen Johnson. With bases loaded, Shirley Burleson was hit by a pitch, scoring Maines. Kate Manuse then hit a single, scoring Hill.
Keli Harrell was on the mound for the Pirates, holding Rider scoreless until the fifth inning. With one out and runners on second and third, Brandey Weed hit a two-run double to left center. Rider's final run came in the top of the seventh when Amanda Tu sent one over the left field fence.
Harrell finished the game with six strikeouts and three walks. Jessup led the seven hit attack going 2-3 with one RBI.
The Pirates will return to action next weekend, March 12-14, in the College of Charleston Tournament in Charleston, S.C.
Holiday Inn Express/Pirate Clash All-Tournament Team
ECU: Kristen Johnson, Maggie Lingo
JMU: Liz George, Katie George
Liberty: Sarah Swor
Ohio: Kiersten Scrima
Rider: Jennifer Cullen, Maddy Boulden
Stony Brook: Laura Bradford, Sarah Hoffman
