East Carolina University
Binghamton
Softball Rolls Past Binghamton; Squeaks Past Fairfield
March 04, 2006 | Softball
March 4, 2006
Greenville, N.C.--- East Carolina continued play at the Hampton Inn Pirate Clash Saturday by nipping Fairfield 2-1 after defeating Binghamton in convincing fashion 15-0.
In the first game of the day against Binghamton, senior Stephanie Hayes allowed only one hit, and the Pirates' offense used an 11-run third to produce their most runs of the season.
Leading 3-0 in the bottom of the third, freshman Jessica Johnson and senior Ashley Quick each delivered a two-run double, to highlight an inning that saw the Pirates' collect seven hits.
Sophomore Erin St. Ledger led all Pirates with three RBIs. Also driving in runs in the game were senior Alison Monce and freshman Vanessa Moreno with two apiece, while junior Jessica Potter and sophomore Paige Baggett collected one each.
Hayes (2-0) struck out six batters in four innings of work to earn her second win of the season, before giving way to freshman Brooke Swann in the fifth and final inning.
In the second contest for the Pirates, senior Keli Harrell allowed only one run, while pitching her second complete game of the tournament to lead ECU past Fairfield.
The Pirates, acting as visiting team, jumped on the board early in the top of the first when catcher Krista Jessup led off with a single, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Monce.
Harrell held Fairfield hitless for the first three innings before Tara Hansen homered to left field to tie the game.
The Pirates' responded in the top of the fifth when Moreno doubled to start the inning. Quick later drove her in with a sacrifice fly to center field to put ECU ahead to stay.
Harrell (6-3) dominated for a second day in a row, striking out 10 while allowing just the home run and walking none, in her fourth complete game outing of the season.
ECU is now 13-5 on the season and will meet either Delaware or Longwood in the championship game of the Gold Bracket at the Pirate Clash at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Other games scheduled for Sunday include Fairfield vs. Liberty at 9 a.m. at the ECU Softball Field, St. Francis vs. Binghamton at 9 a.m. at D.H. Conley High School and the championship game of the Purple Bracket at 11 a.m. at D.H. Conley High School.
