Softball Sweeps Twinbill From Louisville
April 16, 2005 | Softball
With the victories ECU improved to 49-13 overall, Louisville fell to 26-15 and both teams now post a conference record of 11-3. With their victory in game two, the Pirates also established a school mark for C-USA victories.
In game one, junior Stephanie Hayes (13-1) received all the run support she needed in third inning. After senior Kate Manuse homered to lead off the second inning, the Pirates added three additional runs in the third. Senior Mandi Nichols singled back through the middle to plate a pair runs and then scored on double by Manuse. Manuse finished 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI.
Louisville responded with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth to pull within two runs, but ECU answered with a run in its half of the fifth and again in the sixth. Senior Leigh Savoy lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth and senior Krista Jessup drove in an insurance run in the sixth.
Hayes scattered seven hits over six innings before yielding to sophomore Keli Harrell, who retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh.
All the offense in game two came on one swing of the bat from freshman Beth Nolan with solo home run in the second. It was a pitching duel from that point on.
The three pitchers in game combined to strikeout 22 batters and allow just six hits. Harrell (23-10) earned the victory with a complete game four-hit shutout with seven strikeouts.
Harrell retired 10 consecutive batters after yielding a base to hit Candi Hicks in the first and 11 of the next 12 overall before getting into a jam in the fifth. UofL loaded the bases with one out, but Harrell struck out Audrey Rendon and then got Hicks to pop out to retain the 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals threatened in the seventh, but after issuing a leadoff walk and a two out single, Harrell induced a foul out to clinch the 1-0 victory.
ECU and UofL will conclude their three-game series Sunday as the Pirates will be in search of their 1,000th victory in school history. The game is scheduled for a 12 noon start.
