East Carolina University
UAB
Pirates Drop Softball Twinbill to Blazers
April 07, 2007 | Softball
April 6, 2007
Game One Box Score in PDF Format
Game Two Box Score in PDF Format
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Despite holding a 2-0 lead in game two, the East Carolina softball team was swept by UAB in a Conference USA doubleheader by scores of 2-0 and 5-2 Friday night at George Ward Park in Birmingham. The Pirates drop to 28-14 on the season and 6-5 in conference play while the Blazers improve to 26-19 and 7-6 in C-USA.
ECU struggled offensively in game one. After Charina Sumner and Kaui Tom led off the game with back-to-back hits, the Pirates were able to muster only two hits the rest of the contest. Keli Harrell (15-8) took the loss, allowing two runs on six hits. The senior did, however, record eight strikeouts to push her C-USA-leading career total to 914. Both UAB runs were unearned.
The Blazers scored the only runs of game one in the fifth inning. Amanda Antonovich led off the inning with a single and was advanced to second on another single by Jennifer Nelson. After Allison Davis drew a two-out walk, Antonovich scored on a throwing error by shortstop Kaui Tom. Harrell proceeded to hit the next batter, Holly Krzan, to provide the winning 2-0 margin for UAB. Before today, ECU had allowed just three total runs in the fifth inning this season.
In the nightcap, the Pirates took the lead in the third inning. Christina Merrida started the rally when she walked. After Sumner reached on a fielding error by second baseman Leigh Walker, Tom advanced both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Jessica Johnson brought Merrida and Sumner home with a RBI-single to left field to give ECU the 2-0 advantage.
The Blazers would take the lead for good in their half of the fourth inning. A lead-off double by Walker set the stage for the rally. With Walker at second, Kayla Harris walked. The runners would advance to second and third on a groundout. Three consecutive hits ultimately combined to give UAB a 3-2 lead, a lead which they would not relinquish. The Blazers tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning to take the game 5-2 and also capture the doubleheader sweep.
Freshman Toni Paisley pitched four innings for the Pirates, allowing five earned runs on five hits while striking out seven UAB hitters. Despite the loss, the hurler still boasts an impressive 11-4 record. Harrell pitched two innings in relief, giving up just one hit and striking out one Blazer.
ECU will look to salvage the final game of the conference series, as it takes on UAB again tomorrow. First pitch for this crucial contest is tabbed for 1 p.m.
