East Carolina University
ETSU
ECU Softball Falls to East Tennessee State, 9-8
February 14, 2015 | Softball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina softball team allowed four runs in the fifth inning as the Pirates dropped a 9-8 decision to East Tennessee State in the final game of the Pirate Clash on Saturday. ECU falls to 5-4 on the year, while the Bucs improve to 5-5.
"This was a tough weekend," Interim head coach Steve Jaecks said. "I don't think we necessarily lost our intensity; I think the team lost their edge. We will address it this week during practice and move forward."
Despite the tough loss, the Pirates received a strong performance from sophomore Kacie Oshiro, who earned the starting nod at designated player. Oshiro put ECU on the board with an RBI single up the middle to plate redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne who reached on a base hit. Oshiro later scored on a sacrifice fly from junior center fielder Meredith Mitchell to give East Carolina a 3-1 lead.
After the Bucs tallied a pair of runs in the top of the third to tie the game at three, the Pirates plated three more runs in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore first baseman Ali Ramirez followed by a two-run double from Oshiro.
It was a career day for Oshiro as she finished the game going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and one run scored.
"Kacie Oshiro's stats show what she can do," Jaecks said. "She has had several great practices and earned the right to be starting. She had a great game today and that was indicative of her practices. That speaks very well for her and her preparation."
Although Oshiro was solid at the plate, the Pirates' pitching could not hold the lead. Freshman right-hander Ashley Cruise started the contest and went 4.0 innings while allowing six runs, all earned, on eight hits, while striking out four. She left the game with the score knotted at six as she collected the no decision. Senior righty Sarah Christian (2-2) came on in relief and suffered the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits with one walk and a strikeout in 3.0 innings of work.
During the fifth inning, Cruise and Christian combined to surrender four runs as ETSU took the lead, 7-6, on four runs off of five hits.
The Pirates managed to tie the game in the bottom of the frame on an RBI-single off the bat of Oshiro to score Wynne, who had reached base on an error.
With the game even at 7-7, East Tennessee State recorded a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to take a 9-7 lead. The Pirates would not go quietly as they loaded the bases with two outs. Ramirez came up to the plate and worked the count until it was full before drawing a walk which scored Mary-Sloan Bradford who led off the inning with a base on balls.
However, one run was all East Carolina could muster as the Pirates fell to the Bucs, 9-8.
ETSU reliever Madison Ogle (1-0) was credited with the win after pitching 2.1 innings while allowing just one earned run on two hits with two strikeouts and four walks. She relieved starter Whitney Leon who went 4.2 innings while giving up seven runs (six earned) on five hits, with three walks and a pair of strikeouts.
East Carolina looks to turn things around in its final home tournament of the season beginning Friday, February 20 at the Pirate Invitational. ECU will host Kennesaw State, Lafayette, Virginia Tech and Seton Hall during the three-day tournament. Live stats and video will be available on ECUPirates.com.
