East Carolina University
Michigan
Pirates Drop First Two At FAU Classic
February 16, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 16, 2007
ECU vs. Michigan Box Score (PDF)
BOCA RATON, FLA. - East Carolina opened play at the Florida Atlantic Dunkin' Donuts Classic with a pair of setbacks Friday, falling 3-1 to No. 14 Michigan before suffering a six-inning 9-1 loss to Maryland at the FAU Softball Stadium.
After opening the season with three consecutive victories, the Pirates (3-3) have dropped three straight. The Wolverines improved to 5-1 while the Terrapins evened their record at 1-1.
In the opener against Michigan, a pair of hits and a throwing error by ECU pitcher Keli Harrell erased a 1-0 Pirate lead and keyed a game-deciding three-run sixth inning by the Wolverines.
Vanessa Moreno accounted for East Carolina's only run with a RBI-double to right-center field in the bottom of the third inning to score Cristen Aona from first base. The at-bat for Moreno was her first of the 2007 season after missing the first week of action.
Lorilyn Wilson (3-1) earned the win for the Wolverines, scattering four hits and striking out three in a complete game effort. Harrell (2-2) allowed five hits and three unearned runs while fanning twelve in through 7.0 innings.
Against Maryland, Jessica Johnson's second homer of the season, a solo shot in the second inning, tied the game at one, but a five-run second inning put the Terrapins ahead for good. Maryland added three more runs in the sixth off reliever Brooke Swann to push its lead to 9-1 and seal the victory.
Freshman Toni Paisley (0-0) started for the Pirates and surrendered six runs in 2.0 innings. Swann pitched effectively for the remaining 3.1 innings, allowing just three runs on Amber Jackson's round-tripper. Maryland's pitcher Meredith Nelles pitched 5.2 innings and allowed one run while striking out five.
"Brooke (Swann) pitched very well for us today in relief of Toni (Paisley)," associate head coach Natalie Kozlowski said. "We struggled offensively against excellent teams in Maryland and Michigan. We need to get our pitching and hitting back to how we had it during the Carolina Classic."
The Pirates will continue tourney play with two more games Saturday, facing Long Island at 11 a.m. and host Florida Atlantic beginning at 6 p.m. Both the Blackbirds and the Owls made regional appearances during the 2006 season.
