Softball Takes Two From UNC Wilmington
April 05, 2006 | Softball
April 5, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Eat Carolina tallied 11 hits in a 5-1 game one victory, before rallying from two runs down in game two to complete a doubleheader sweep of UNC Wilmington, 4-3, here Wednesday.
With the victories ECU improved to 28-17, while UNC Wilmington dropped to 22-21 on the year.
Freshman Vanessa Moreno got ECU off and rolling with a solo home run to lead off the opener.
The Pirates tacked on two runs in the third. Ashley Quick tripled off the right field wall to drive the first run before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Paige Baggett.
ECU starting pitcher Keli Harrell (16-11) worked herself out of a one-out bases loaded jam in the fourth, yielding just a single run. With the one run one the board for UNCW, Harrell induced a pop up to left field and then struck out Tabitha Stephenson to retire the side.
An RBI-single by Jessica Potter and a bases loaded walk to Laurel Carlson pushed the Pirates' lead to 5-1 in the fifth. ECU collected three hits in the inning to bring its game total to 10, pounding out double digit hits for a second consecutive game.
Harrell repeated her fourth inning performance in the sixth, retiring the final two batters of the inning with runners at first and second base. Jennifer Bosley popped out to third base for the second out before striking out Caitlin Andrus to end the inning.
Harrell struck out the final batter in five of seven innings and finished with seven strikeouts.
Jessica Luckett (7-8) took the loss for UNCW with a trio of walks and strikeouts.
UNC Wilmington struck first in the nightcap as Carley Hughes hit a solo home run with one out in the second.
The Seahawks extended their lead in to 2-0 in the fourth. Lindsay Styons doubled to left field to drive in the run and chase ECU starting pitcher Bretnly Bridgeforth from the game after she walked two consecutive batters.
With one out and two runners in scoring position, ECU freshman pitcher Brooke Swann entered the game and proceeded to strike out both batters she faced, holding the Seahawks to a run.
Without the benefit of a base hit, the Pirates plated their first run in fourth as Beth Nolan lifted a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Jessica Johnson.
UNCW got the run back in fifth when Ali Gardiner doubled to center field scoring Whitney Knudsen from first base with two outs.
A two-out error in the fifth allowed the Pirates to score their second run and pull back within a run, 3-2. Erin St. Ledger ended pitcher Jennifer Bosley's no-hit bid following the error that extended the inning. Krista Jessup then laced a two-out single to left field, scoring Vanessa Moreno.
With the Seahawks threatening to extend their lead in the sixth, Harrell took the circle and struck out Hayley House to retire the side with runners and second and third.
ECU completed its comeback by plating two runs in the sixth. Paige Baggett doubled to start the inning and Jessica Potter followed by drawing a base-on-balls. After Bosely (9-10) struck out the next two batters, pinch-hitter Laurel Carlson doubled, driving in the tying and game-winning run.
Harrell earned the victory striking out two of the five batters she faced, including the final batter of the game, in 1.1 innings.
ECU returns to Conference USA play this weekend traveling to Tulsa for a three-game series beginning Saturday.
