Softball Splits Twin Bill With Charlotte
May 08, 2004 | Softball
Charlotte (23-28, 6-16 C-USA) took a 1-0 lead in game two in the first, when Denise Atmar scored from second on an error by centerfielder Lacassa Hill. That lead held up until East Carolina (45-22-1, 9-14 C-USA) tied the game in the top of the seventh. Brently Bridgeforth entered as a pinch runner for Kristen Johnson, who reached on a error by Autumn Lawson. She made her way to third, then scored on Mandi Nichols' ground out to third. In the Niners' half of the seventh, Huffstetler reached on an error by Leigh Savoy. Becky Holt sacrificed to move her to second. She moved over to third on a groundout. The Pirates walked Jessica Moore to load the bases and get to Matthews, who dropped a single into center field and win the game.
Christy Murray scattered three hits over seven innings to win the game for the 49ers. She improved to 12-13 for the season. Maggie Lingo went the distance as well, but dropped to 15-6 with the loss.
In the first game, it was East Carolina that jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first. Hill put the Pirates on the board when Krista Jessup drew a walk with the bases loaded. They scored a pair of insurance runs in the fourth, including what proved to be the winning run. Shirley Burleson scored the first on Hill's triple. Hill came home shortly thereafter, when the next batter, Christine Sheridan, singled. Charlotte picked up a pair of runs in the sixth to pull within 3-2. Atmar tripled to drive in Moore and came home herself on Sam Moore's single to second base. The Pirates added to their lead in the seventh, scoring four times to provide the final 7-2 margin.
Keli Harrell earned the win to move to 15-7 on the year. Kristen Bowen took the loss, falling to 11-15.
With the loss in game one, Charlotte was eliminated from getting a spot in the Conference USA Tournament. The 49ers will close the season Sunday with a single game versus East Carolina at noon.
