Softball Splits Doubleheader With DePaul
April 23, 2005 | Softball
The two teams battled each other pitch-for-pitch until the top of seventh inning of game two when ECU (51-14, 13-4) scored the game's only run. Senior Kate Manuse doubled to leadoff the frame before being lifted for pinch runner Brently Bridgeforth. Bridgeforth was then sacrificed over to third base and later scored on an RBI-double by senior Leigh Savoy. Manuse went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, collecting three of the Pirates' five hits.
Harrell (25-10) then retired the side in order to preserve the Pirates' 18th shutout victory of the year. Harrell struck out five batters, while inducing 10 groundouts and allowed just one runner past second base after the second inning.
Game one watched DePaul (29-14, 15-2) plate two early runs in the first inning and assume a 6-1 lead after five innings. Manuse hit her 14th home run of the year to plate the Pirates' first run of the game in the fourth. ECU then plated two runs in the sixth to cut its deficit in half before the Blue Demons erupted for seven runs in the bottom half of the inning for the final margin.
Senior Mandi Nichols' 12th home run of the season provided ECU's final offensive charge in the sixth with Manuse scoring after reaching on an error.
Junior Stephanie Hayes (13-2) allowed six runs through four innings, suffering just her second loss of the year, before Bridgeforth tossed the final 1.2 innings.
The rubber game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT.
