East Carolina University
Delaware
Swann No-Hits Delaware In Split
March 01, 2008 | Softball
March 1, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. - After dropping the first of two games on Saturday to Fordham 11-6, the East Carolina softball team rode a no-hitter from junior Brooke Swann to a 10-0 rout of Delaware at the ECU Softball Field. The Pirates now stand at 14-5 on the season. ECU wrapped up the three seed in the Pirate Clash with the mercy-rule victory.
The Rams were all over the Pirates early as they led off the game with two singles. After Dearborn was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, Fisher doubled, scoring two runs to give Fordham the advantage.
East Carolina responded in the bottom of the second frame. With Erin St. Ledger and Cristen Aona on first and second, they advanced one base further on a sacrifice bunt by Stacey Andrews. St. Ledger would score on the next play as the Rams' catcher threw past the third baseman in an attempt to pick off the senior. Vanessa Moreno then stepped up and doubled to right field, scoring Aona and knotting the score. Moreno would cross the plate herself just one batter later as Angel Barrella recorded a double of her own to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.
The game rolled along until the fifth inning when Fordham broke it open with seven runs on four hits and an ECU error. The Rams tallied two stolen bases in the half-inning to aid their efforts while the Pirates were charged with a passed ball. East Carolina rallied in the bottom half of the inning. St. Ledger led off with a single to right field before Aona doubled, scoring Sarah Bibee who had pinch run for St. Ledger. After Andrews struck out, Moreno stepped up and belted a ball over the center field wall, cutting the deficit to 9-6.
The Rams sealed the game in the last two innings, scoring a run in each frame off of three total hits.
Swann took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on six hits. The junior struck out three in four innings. Moreno joined with Jessica Johnson to spur the offense as the pair went 4-for-7 with three RBI and two runs scored.
After the tough loss, the Pirates, batting as the away team against the Blue Hens, plated five runs in the first to stake themselves to the early lead. They used two RBI singles, a groundout and a fielder's choice play to account for the runs, including a two-RBI single by Barrella.
Swann allowed just two base runners through the first three innings as East Carolina stretched its lead to 8-0 with three runs in the top of the third. Andrews ripped a two-RBI double while Kaui Tom was able to plate Andrews on a groundout to second.
The Pirates added two more runs in the fourth inning while Swann retired her last six batters to complete the no-hit shutout. The contest marks her eighth complete game of the year and second shutout as her record now stands at 8-3. Swann struck out two in the game.
ECU wraps up play in the Pirate Clash as it faces the two seed Towson at 11 a.m. Sunday at the ECU Softball Field. The winner of that contest moves on to battle Fordham at 1 p.m. for the tournament championship. Radford and Liberty start the day's action at 9 a.m. in a consolation contest.
