Softball Rolls Past Rutgers, 16-8
March 18, 2005 | Softball
Despite yielding just two hits in its second game of the tournament against Virginia, the Pirates suffered a 3-2 setback.
ECU (33-7) jumped on the scoreboard with five runs in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted a grand slam home run from senior Mandi Nichols to take a 5-0 advantage. The Pirates then allowed four runs in the top of the third and fourth inning and fell behind, 8-5.
The Pirate bats then erupted for eight runs in the bottom half of the fourth. Following three consecutive singles, senior Leigh Savoy tripled to drive in three runs. Kate Manuse then followed with an RBI-double to drive in the go-ahead run. Junior Ashley Quick later hit a two-run home run to cap the scoring in the fourth. The Pirates also added three runs in the bottom half of the fifth.
Against the Cavaliers, ECU scored both of its runs in the first inning off a two-run blast from Manuse. The Pirates collected just four more hits the rest of the game. Virginia also scored all of its runs via the long ball.
The Cavaliers' leadoff batter reached on an error to start the fourth and then scored on a two-out home run by Cameron. Larquier then hit the game-winning home run in the sixth.
Brently Bridgeforth picked up the win against Rutgers, while Keli Harrell was saddled with the loss versus Virginia.
The Pirates continue play at the tournament with games against Bowling Green and Toledo on Saturday.
