Purple Sweeps Gold in World Series Doubleheader
November 11, 2014 | Softball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina Softball team continued its Purple-Gold World Series Tuesday as Purple defeated Gold by one-run in both games of a doubleheader by scores of 2-1 and 3-2. With the sweep, Purple moves to 4-0 in the World Series.
In the first game, freshman right-handed pitcher Ashley Cruise earned the start for Purple and pitched three innings of work while giving up one run on two hits, while striking out two. Senior righty Caroline Umphlett came on in relief and pitched the final four innings on the game to collect the victory. She struck out four and allowed just two hits.
Freshman Mary Sloan Bradford finished the contest 2-for-4, while junior Nicole Cheek was 2-for-3. Cheek got the offense going for Purple as she blasted a solo shot in the first inning to give Purple a 1-0 lead. She came back in the fourth and drove in what proved to be the winning run with a double down the rightfield line plating Bradford who led off the inning with a single.
Rounding out the offensive output for Purple, Meredith Mitchell concluded the game with a .667 batting average after going 2-for-3, while Casey Alcorn and Karlie Smith chipped in with one hit apiece.
Redshirt senior right-hander Sarah Christian went the distance for Gold as she surrendered just two runs in seven innings pitched.
Sophomore catcher Alex Mycek gave Gold its only run of the game with a home run over the centerfield wall in the third inning. In addition to Myceck's homer, Gold tallied three more hits in the game coming from Ciara Ervin, Kerry Butler and Kelsi Briggs.
In the nightcap, Gold took an early lead as Kacie Oshiro, who led off with a single to center, came around to score on a two-out bases loaded single by Ervin.
Purple came back and took a 2-1 lead in the third after Abby Wynne drove in Cheek, who had reached on a walk, then came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Mitchell.
Mycek launched her second home run of the day in the fourth inning to even the score at 2-2 as she took Umphlett deep over the leftfield wall.
In the final inning, Purple pushed across the game-winning run when Mitchell drove in Alcorn who had reached third following a bunt by Andie Johnson after starting the inning on second due to the International Tie Breaker rule.
Lydia Ritchie took the hard luck loss for Gold while striking out eight in seven innings of work, while giving up five hits.
Umphlett started the game for Purple and gave up six hits in four innings with two strikeouts. Cruise pitched the final three innings and earned the win as Gold was not able to muster a single hit off of Cruise.
On the game, Ervin continued her hot-hitting with a pair of base hits, while Rebecca Perrell, Oshiro and Ashton Stowe each collected one hit for Gold.
Smith had a sixth inning single and was joined by Wynne, Alcorn, Johnson, and Mitchell who each finished the game with one hit apiece for Purple.
The Purple-Gold World Series concludes Wednesday, November 12 at 4:15 p.m. at the ECU Softball Stadium.
