East Carolina University
Seton Hall
East Carolina Splits on Day One of Pirate Invitational
February 21, 2015 | Softball
ECU-Seton Hall Box Score 
| ECU-Virginia Tech Box Score
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina softball team received a strong performance from senior right-hander Sarah Christian as she pitched the Pirates past Seton Hall, 4-0, before ECU dropped a 6-1 decision to Virginia Tech in the night cap. East Carolina moves to 6-5 on the year, while Seton Hall falls to 5-7 and Virginia Tech improves to 11-1.
Christian (3-2) hurled a complete-game shutout as she allowed six hits in 7.0 innings of work, while fanning five and walking three. She was solid as she did not allow Seton Hall an extra-base hit in the contest.
"I think Sarah did a really good job out there," Interim head coach Steve Jaecks said. "Sarah's mechanics were working very nicely today. For her to come in and shut them down like that; she did a great job."
ECU took advantage of Christian's effort and tallied seven hits in the contest while scoring four times against Seton Hall starter Lauren Fischer (2-3).
The hosts got on the board in the bottom of the first when lead-off hitter, Mary-Sloan Bradford, scored after being hit by a pitch and moving her way to third on a stolen base and wild pitch before scoring on a single to left by junior right fielder Nicole Cheek.
East Carolina added to its lead in the third when junior shortstop Casey Alcorn doubled home Karlie Smith to make it a 2-0 advantage. Alcorn later came around to score on a single up the middle from sophomore first baseman Ali Ramirez to give ECU a three-run lead.
Sophomore second baseman Megan Quick, who reached on a single up the middle, plated ECU's final run of the game after Fischer walked redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne with the bases loaded.
ECU scattered seven hits throughout the contest and drew five walks, but left nine on base.
"We left a couple of bases loaded situations in the first game," Jaecks said. "We have to be better at getting more runs across when we are in those situations. We tend to put more pressure on ourselves with bases loaded as opposed to just taking care of things at the plate and letting the chips fall where they may. It's something we'll keep working on."
In the night cap, the Pirates faced Virginia Tech and the Hokies' starter Maggie Tyler (5-1) was solid in the circle as she pitched a complete game while allowing just one run on three hits with 15 strikeouts and two walks.
For ECU, freshman right-hander Ashley Cruise (2-1) earned the starting nod and suffered the loss after tossing 2.2 innings while giving up five runs (all earned) on four hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. Senior righty Caroline Umphlett came on in relief and recorded 4.1 innings of work while allowing just one earned run on four hits and three walks.
The Hokies scored a run in the first inning after lead-off batter Breanna Davenport drew a walk to start the game and came home on a double to left-center from Kylie McGoldrick.
Virginia Tech added to its lead by plating four runs in the third inning as Michelle Prong scored on Davenport's double. Kelsey Mericka launched her eighth home run of the year, a three-run shot, over the centerfield wall to highlight the frame.
The visitors added their final run of the game in the sixth to make it a 6-0 ballgame after Prong laced an RBI-double to right-centerfield.
Tyler started the game by striking out the side and did not allow a hit until the third inning when junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell legged out an infield single to short. The Pirates did not record another base hit until the fifth when sophomore designated player Kacie Oshiro sent a single deep in the hole at short.
East Carolina refused to quit and Alcorn put the Pirates on the board with her third home run of the year, a solo shot to leftfield, in the bottom of the seventh.
"We need to learn how to answer when a team puts 3-4 runs on the board," Jaecks said. "We have to be able to come back and answer that. Unfortunately, we were not able to do that today."
East Carolina will get another chance at Virginia Tech in the final game of the Pirate Invitational on Sunday, February 22 when ECU faces the Hokies at 3 p.m., following its 12:30 p.m. contest with Seton Hall. Live stats and video will be available on ECUPirates.com.
