Softball Opens Season With Two Victories
February 11, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 11, 2006
Boca Raton, Fla. - East Carolina posted shut out victories over Bethune-Cookman and Florida Atlantic on day one of the FAU Worth Invitational Friday. ECU blanked Bethune-Cookman in its season opener, 7-0, and then shut out FAU, 1-0 to open the season 2-0 for a third consecutive year.
After being held hitless through the first six innings by Bethune-Cookman, ECU erupted for seven runs on six hits in its final at-bat. Senior Krista Jessup led off the inning with her first of two doubles during the frame. Freshman Jessica Johnson then pushed pinch-runner Sarah Bibee over to third base on a sacrifice bunt and reached base successfully as the Wildcats were unable to make a play. Senior Alison Monce followed one out later with a two-run double to plate both base runners, giving junior pitcher Keli Harrell all the run support she needed.
ECU collected five doubles during the inning with Jessup and freshman Vanessa Moreno also driving in two runs with a two-base hit, while sophomore Paige Baggett recorded an RBI-double of her own.
Harrell (1-0) then retired the side in succession in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure the Pirates' first win of the season. She allowed just three hits and struck out eight to win her initial outing of the year for a third consecutive season.
ECU freshman pitcher Brooke Swann (1-0) made her collegiate debut during the second game of the day and surrendered just two hits, while striking out seven in a complete game effort.
Swann carried a no-hitter through four innings of work before yielding a lead-off single in the fifth. FAU made its only major threat of the night in the inning as it loaded the bases with two out before Swann induced an infield pop-up to get out of the jam.
Monce then lead-off the Pirates' half of the fifth with a single and moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Beth Nolan. Senior Ashley Quick then singled through the middle with one out to plate Monce from second base with the game's only run.
Swann sat the Owls down quietly in the sixth and the retired the final two batters of the game in order with the potential tying-run on second base.
ECU continues play at the FAU Worth Invitational on Saturday with games against Purdue and Pittsburgh.
