East Carolina University
Houston (C-USA Tournament)
Softball Eliminated From C-USA Championship By Houston
May 12, 2006 | Softball
May 12, 2006
TULSA, Okla. --- Third-seeded Houston eliminated fifth-seeded East Carolina from the 2006 Conference USA Softball Championship by posting a 7-0 win at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex on Thursday.
The loss drops the Pirates to 40-24 overall, while the Cougars improved to 39-22 and advanced to face Southern Miss in another elimination game today at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
Laurie Wagner doubled to right center to open the scoring as pitcher Angel Shamblin scored from second base after leading off the second inning with a single. Despite giving up two hits and issuing a walk, junior pitcher Keli Harrell allowed just the one run as she induced a pop fly to end the inning with two runners aboard.
The Cougars chased Harrell from the game in the fourth after two of its first three batters reached. Harrell (26-15) gave up seven hits in 3.1 innings and was charged with three runs as she lost for the first time in her last six starts.
Jaci Gonzalez pushed the Cougars' lead to 3-0 with a base hit down the right field line, scoring Wagner and Jamie Adams. Gonzalez was tossed out trying to take second base before Jessica Valis grounded out to end the inning.
Houston pushed across another run in the fifth and three in the sixth to seize command of the game and take a 7-0 advantage.
Sophomores Paige Baggett and Beth Nolan accounted for the Pirates' only hits. The only other Pirate to reach base was freshman Jessica Johnson drawing a walk and reaching on an error.
Shamblin (16-9), the Conference USA Pitcher of the Year, retired 15 of the final 17 batters she faced, including the side in order four times. She struck out six and walked just one in six innings of work.
