East Carolina University
Bucknell
East Carolina Softball Suffers Setback Against Bucknell
February 13, 2015 | Softball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina softball team surrendered eight runs in the second inning and committed six errors as the Pirates dropped a 16-2 five-inning contest to Bucknell Friday afternoon at the Pirate Clash. ECU sent three pitchers to the circle as they allowed nine earned runs on 14 hits. With the loss the Pirates drop to 5-3 on the year, while the Bison improve to 5-0.
"I don't think we rebounded from losing our lead last night in the seventh," Interim head coach Steve Jaecks said. "We are eight games into the season so there is no reason to panic just yet. But we have nine errors in two games; that is indicative of letting the ball play you. We'll make adjustments and move forward."
The Pirates got on the board first as freshman left fielder Mary-Sloan Bradford led the bottom of the first off with a base on balls. She moved into scoring position on a single from redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne and came around to score the first run of the game on an RBI-single to left-center field off the bat of junior shortstop Casey Alcorn.
East Carolina's lead did not last long as Bucknell took advantage of three Pirate errors in the top of the second to plate eight runs and take a 7-run advantage. Senior right-handed pitcher Sarah Christian (2-1) was unable to record an out in the top of the second as she exited the game with just 1.0 inning pitched, while allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits with one strikeout. She was relieved by senior righty Caroline Umphlett who surrendered three runs in the frame before striking out the final three batters she faced in the inning.
The Bison added a pair of runs in the top of the third to extend their lead to nine (10-1) and the Pirates managed to plate another run in the bottom of the inning after junior right fielder Nicole Cheek, who reached on a base hit, scored on a double down the right field by freshman third baseman Karlie Smith. However, the two runs were all the Pirates could muster off of Bucknell starting left-hander Amanda Fazio (2-0). Fazio pitched 5.0 innings allowing just two earned runs on four hits while fanning eight and walking two.
With a 10-2 lead, the Bison's offense continued its hot hitting as they tallied six runs in the top of the fourth to knock Umphlett out of the game. Umphlett finished the day with 2.1 innings of work while giving up 10 runs (six earned) on nine hits while walking one and striking out four. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Lydia Ritchie finished the frame allowing just one unearned run on two hits with one strikeout.
The Pirates went down in order in the next two innings as East Carolina fell to Bucknell by a score of 16-2.
East Carolina looks to get back on the winning track when it faces East Tennessee State on the final day of the Pirate Clash on Saturday, February 14 at 4:30 p.m. Live stats and video will be available on ECUPirates.com.
