East Carolina University
Long Island
Johnson's Home Run Propels ECU Over FAU
February 17, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 17, 2007
ECU vs. Long Island Box Score (PDF)
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BOCA RATON, FLA. - East Carolina faired much better on day two of the FAU Dunkin' Donuts Classic defeating two 2006 regional teams in Long Island 4-0 and Florida Atlantic 2-1 at the FAU Softball Stadium.
In the first game of the day for the Pirates, East Carolina shutout the Blackbirds 4-0 on a complete game effort by Keli Harrell (3-1). Harrell allowed two hits while striking out 11 batters. It was her fourth complete game of the season. She has fanned 44 batters out of the 100 she has faced during the 2007 season. Harrell has 798 strikeouts in her career and is now 60 strikeouts shy of the C-USA all-time record.
A wild pitch by Long Island starter Blaire Porter in the fourth inning to score Paige Baggett, who had doubled earlier in the inning, proved to be the winning run. The Pirates would get an insurance run in the sixth inning when Erin St. Ledger singled to left field, plating Kaui Tom. Tom had led off the inning with a single and reached third base on a throwing error by right fielder Renea Beauchman. ECU scored two more runs in the seventh inning on RBIs by Kaui Tom and Sarah Bibee.
Jessica Johnson's third home run of the season in the fifth inning against FAU gave the Pirates the 2-1 lead. The Owls had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Charina Sumner's throw from right field to first base with two outs and a runner at third base ended the game.
Brooke Swann made her first start of the season, going the distance and allowing just three hits, one of which was a home run. It was the sophomore's eleventh start and sixth complete game of her career.
"It was good to get two wins today and get off of our losing streak," associate head coach Natalie Kozlowski said. "Against Long Island, Harrell pitched great the entire game and we got the hits we needed to put runs on the board. We had a great team effort against FAU with Brooke (Swann) pitching great and our defense coming up with big plays. Jessica Johnson continues to come through with clutch big hits and she came through again for us tonight."
The FAU Dunkin' Donuts Classic will wrap up Sunday, Feb. 18 as the Pirates face FAU in a rematch to determine third and fourth place at 11 a.m.
