East Carolina University
Michigan State
Softball Suffers First Loss Of Season
February 18, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 18, 2006
Greenville, N.C. --- Michigan State pitcher Rachel Turney surrendered two hits, while striking out 11 batters to lead the Spartans to a 1-0 victory over East Carolina in the championship game of the Holiday Inn Express Pirate Classic.
After collecting only one hit through the first four innings, Michigan State, which was acting as home team, pushed across the only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Elizabeth Peterson led off the inning with a single up the middle, and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Caitlin Mahoney. Meghan Darhower followed with an RBI-double, scoring the only run of the game.
Turney retired the Pirates in order in the last two innings.
ECU senior Krista Jessup collected both hits for the Pirates, who suffered their first loss of the season after opening with eight consecutive victories.
Junior Keli Harrell (3-1) took the loss despite allowing just four hits in a complete game effort.
The championship game, originally scheduled for Sunday, was rescheduled for Saturday night following inclement weather that passed through the Greenville area early in the afternoon. East Carolina and Michigan State both brought 3-0 records in the tournament into the game.
ECU advanced to the championship game by defeating Towson, 5-0 in a rain-shortened game.
Sophomore Erin St. Ledger collected three hits and two RBIS to lead the Pirates.
After East Carolina stranded two base runners in the first inning, junior Joyce Roodenburg wasted no time in the second inning as she led off with a home run to left field.
Later in the inning, errors proved to be costly for the Tigers as senior Ashley Quick reached first base on an error and later moved to second on a throwing error, before eventually hustling from second on an infield single by St. Ledger to plate the Pirates' second run of the ball game.
In the fourth inning ECU added to its lead with heads up base running and timely hits. With no outs the Pirates capitalized on another Towson error when Quick stole second and Bibee scored on a throwing error by the catcher. St. Ledger then collected her second RBI of the game when she drove in Quick from second with a single. With one out, St. Ledger stole second base and capped off the Pirates' scoring, when an errant throw by the catcher bounced into center field allowing the sophomore to advance home.
Pitching with the lead for most of the game, freshman Brooke Swann allowed only one hit while striking out two batters in only her second career start.
The game was called in the middle of the fifth due to rain.
The Pirates will play their final game of the weekend on Sunday when they face Elon at 11 a.m. at the ECU Softball field.
