East Carolina University
Utah State
ECU Softball Falls to Utah State
February 08, 2014 | Softball
Feb. 8, 2014
ST. GEORGE, Utah - Utah State's offense scored early and often as the East Carolina softball team suffered a 12-3 loss in the first of two games Saturday afternoon at the Red Desert Classic.
East Carolina's (1-2) first three hitters reached base in the top of the first inning, as senior Chelsea Kaluhiokalani-Glackin reached on an error and classmate Shelby Johnson laid down a bunt single to set the table. Senior Kristi Oshiro then dropped a perfect bunt single of her own to the bald spot in the left side of the Aggies' defense, scoring Kaluhiokalani-Glackin to put the Pirates ahead, 1-0.
It was all Utah State (2-2) from that point on however, responding in the bottom half of the frame with two runs to take a 2-1 lead and never looking back from that point.
The Pirates had just one baserunner between the second and fourth innings on a lone single by sophomore Meredith Mitchell. The Aggies, however, scored three in the second and seven in the third to build a commanding 12-1 advantage remained unblemished until the fifth inning.
With two outs, Kaluhiokalani-Glackin beat out an infield single on a ball hit to the shortstop, before the left-handed hitting Johnson delivered a two-run, opposite field home run. The deep shot was her first as a Division I player, as she finished the game 2-for-3.
Unfortunately, ECU trailed by nine after their half of the fifth inning and fell victim to the run rule.
Noelle Johnson earned her second win of the season for Utah State, scattering five hits and two earned runs, while striking out six and walking none. East Carolina starter Sarah Christian suffered her first loss of the season, allowing five runs (two earned) over 1 2/3 innings in the circle.
