Softball Splits Doubleheader With Marshall
April 01, 2006 | Softball
April 1, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- East Carolina split a doubleheader with Conference USA rival Marshall here Saturday, winning game one 2-1 before dropping the second game, 2-0.
Game two's loss dropped ECU to 24-16 overall and 2-6 in C-USA, while Marshall improve to 20-15 overall and 8-3 in C-USA.
Despite failing to record a fist inning hit in game one, ECU jumped out to a 1-0 lead after an inning of play. Freshman Vanessa Moreno slid underneath catcher Rachel Folden's tag at the plate to score on a fielder's choice. After walking to lead off the inning, Moreno used her speed to beat a throw to second base to move into scoring position before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt.
ECU starter Keli Harrell (13-10) retired the first nine batters she faced before yielding her first hit of the game. She then proceeded to retire the next 10 batters in order before Folden reached with a one-out single in the seventh.
Harrell finished the game with eight strikeouts, moving into second place on the Conference USA career strikeouts list with 664.
Needing just one to secure victory, the Pirates committed two errors on the next play as Dee Tourville's ground ball scooted passed the ECU second baseman and right fielder to score the tying run.
Harrell then struck out Jessica Williams to end Marshall's threat with the go-ahead run on third base.
Beth Noland then singled off the glove of the third baseman to lead off the seventh and was sacrificed over by Alison Monce.
With one-out, Ashley Quick laced a base hit into right field to score pinch runner Sarah Bibee from second base.
MU starter Veronica Ralston (11-8) matched Harrell inning-for-inning, surrendering just one hit in the first six innings. The loss was her first of the season in conference play.
The Pirates' victory snapped their five-game C-USA losing streak.
Marshall was the first to get on the scoreboard in game two, plating one run in the third. After Courtney Kacenga reached on a lead off error, Amanda Williams doubled between the gap in left centerfield to score Kacenga.
The Herd threatened to extend their lead loading the bases with one out. However, ECU starting pitcher Brently Bridgeforth got Tournville to pop out to first base and Jessica Williams to ground out to third, limiting MU to just one run.
MU starter Abigail Harter carried a no-hitter into the fifth before giving up a lead off double to Nolan.
Harter (8-7) earned the victory, allowing just two hits with one strikeout and a pair of walks.
Nolan was then sacrificed over to third, but was left stranded, as the next two batters were unable to drive in the tying-run. It was the only time that the Pirates put a runner in scoring position in the game.
Marshall added an insurance run in the seventh as Sara Spenia scored from third base on a ground ball after leading off the inning with a single.
Bridgeforth (3-4) took the loss, surrendering eight hits and issuing three walks.
The series concludes Sunday with the final game at 12 p.m.
