East Carolina University
UAB
Softball Loses A Pair Of Games To UAB
March 18, 2006 | Softball
March 18, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- UAB swept a Conference USA doubleheader from East Carolina here Saturday, winning both games by a final score of 3-1.
With the victories UAB improved to 17-7 overall and 4-1 in league play, while ECU dropped to 19-10 overall and 1-4 in conference,
Game one was a pitcher's duel between two of the league's top pitchers as the two teams combined for just seven hits.
ECU starter Keli Harrell (10-7) was masterful through the first six innings, striking out nine and limiting the Blazers to just a single hit. Harrell finished the game with 10 strikeouts fanning the final batter she faced.
Equally impressive was UAB starter Jennifer Nelson (7-1), who after struggling through the first inning settled down and limited the Pirates to just two hits over the final six innings.
With ECU clinging to a 1-0 lead in the seventh, UAB put together a rally.
UAB threatened to tie the game with just one out, but ECU second baseman Erin St. Ledger threw out Andrea Rogers at the plate for the second out with runners at first and second.
Down to its last out, UAB snatched victory from ECU when Amanda Antonovich, who struck out each of her first two at-bats, homered to left centerfield to put UAB to top, 3-1.
Nelson then retired the Pirates in order in the seventh to UAB the series-opening win.
Three base-on-balls in the bottom of the first inning led to the Pirates' only run of the game. Alison Monce's two-out infield hit loaded the bases for Paige Baggett, who was issued a walk to plate the run.
Game two produced the same result as game one with ECU scoring first before UAB rallied to come-from-behind again.
Vanessa Moreno drove in the Pirates' lone run in the third with a base hit to centerfield. Jessica Johnson scored the run after opening the frame with a double down the third base line and moving to third on a wild pitch.
UAB surged ahead in the fifth, scoring a pair of runs. Rogers scored the tying-run on a double off the bat of Leigh Walker. She then scored one batter later courtesy of an ECU error to give UAB a one-run advantage.
The Blazers extended their lead to 3-1 in the sixth taking advantage of a pair of Pirate errors. Rogers drove in the Blazers' lone run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
ECU had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, but Moreno was called out on strikes with the tying-run at second base.
Kayla Harris (6-2) struck out four in a complete game effort for UAB, while Brently Bridgeforth (3-1) was charged with her first loss of the season.
The three-game series concludes Sunday at 12 p.m.
