Softball Drops Conference USA Series Finale To No. 18 USF
April 10, 2004 | Softball
ECU (38-13-1, 5-10) fell behind early as USF (44-8, 12-3) scored seven runs in the first three innings. The Bulls put one run on the scoreboard in the first and then added another three runs in the second inning as Carmela Liwag hit a three-run home run, her first of two round-trippers today, to give them a 4-0 lead.
The Pirates countered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the frame as junior Andiey Acosta singled home junior Leigh Savoy.
USF tacked on three more runs in the third inning. An RBI-double by Tiffany Stewart and a two-run home run by Sara Watson pushed its lead to 7-1. The Bulls plated single runs in the fourth and sixth inning before Liwag hit her second home run of the day, a two-run blast, in the seventh.
A two-run bottom of the sixth trimmed the USF lead to 9-3. Sophomore Christine Sheridan was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and advanced to third on a single by sophomore Krista Jessup. Junior Mandi Nichols then singled up the middle to plate both runners.
East Carolina was forced to use all three of its pitchers with starter Brently Bridgeforth (14-4) suffering the loss after giving up six runs on six hits in just two innings of work. Freshman Keli Harrell tossed the next two innings, while junior Maggie Lingo finished the game by throwing the final three frames.
Leigh Ann Ellis (30-4) earned the win for USF, scattering seven hits and striking out nine batters in a complete game effort.
The Pirates return to action Saturday, April 17 with a doubleheader against Liberty. Game one of the twin bill is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Lynchburg, Va.
