Softball Wins Seahawk Classic
February 27, 2005 | Softball
The Pirates completed a perfect weekend at the tournament, going 6-0, and pushed their record to 18-2 on the season. The Flames are 4-1 this spring after opening their season at the 14-team event.
Junior righthander Brently Bridgeforth went the distance for the Pirates, scattering three hits, walking none and striking out four. Liberty starter Sarah Swor lasted just 2 2/3 innings and allowed eight runs ? seven earned ? on six hits, walking four and fanning one.
Savoy, a senior shortstop, went 2-for-4 against the Flames with a two-run single and a solo homer. She was named Tournament MVP after batting over .500 in the tourney, with 12 hits, nine runs batted in, six runs scored and two home runs. Freshman second baseman Paige Bagett also went 2-for-3 with a single, homer and five RBI's in the championship game win over Liberty.
ECU jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the championship game with a pair of runs in its first two at-bats. With one out in the first, Shirley Burleson singled to leftfield and Kate Manuse slammed a two-run homer to right. In the second, Kristy Jessup drew a leadoff walk, took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on an error by Liberty third baseman Whitney Trigg. Baggett then ripped a two-run single to rightfield to stake the Pirates to a 4-0 advantage.
The Pirates chased Swor with four more runs in the third. Jessup laced a two-run single to increase the lead to 6-0 and Savoy added another two-run single to give ECU an 8-0 cushion.
Baggett and freshman Erin St. Ledger crushed home runs in the fifth to put the Pirates ahead, 12-0. Baggett smashed a three-run shot to score Jessup and Alison Monce, while St. Ledger hit a towering shot over the rightfield fence.
In the first game of the day in the championship bracket, the Pirates scored three times in the bottom of the first and survived a late rally by UNC Wilmington to edge the Seahawks, 4-3
Savoy doubled to get things started in the opening frame and then scored on a wild throw to first by UNCW third baseman Ashley Chunn. Manuse then doubled down to rightfield line to give the Pirates runners at second and third. Jessup and Baggett promptly delivered back-to-back RBI singles to complete the scoring.
The Pirates tacked on what proved to be the decisive run in the bottom of the fourth when Savoy led off the inning with a solo homer to right-centerfield.
UNCW cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth. With runners on second and third, Christina Elmore reached on a infield single to score the first run and the Seahawks then plated their second tally on an attempted double steal.
The Seahawks sliced the lead to 4-3 in the top of the seventh and threatened to do more damage before ECU pitcher Keli Harrell worked out of a jam. Pinch runner Jamie Gostyla raced home on a error for UNCW's third run of the day, but with runners at second and third and two outs, Harrell struck out Hayley House to help the Pirates advance to the championship game.
Junior Jennifer Bosely took the loss on the mound for the Seahawks, who finished the three-day tournament with a 4-1 record and now stand 8-8 on the season. Harrell collected the win after going the distance for ECU.
Tournament MVP
Leigh Savoy-ECU
All-Tournament Team
Keli Harrell-ECU
Lindsay Glover-Appalachian State
Abbie Sims-N.C. State
Sarah Swor-Liberty
Jessica Moore-Liberty
Hayley House-UNCW
Krista Searle-UNCW
Catrina Ansbach-Delaware State
Jennifer Gonzales-Hampton
