East Carolina University
Oklahoma
ECU Softball Swept on First Day of Oklahoma Classic
March 14, 2015 | Softball
ECU-Iowa Box Score 
| ECU-Oklahoma Box Score
NORMAN, Okla. - The East Carolina softball team was unable to get its offense going as the Pirates dropped a pair of contests on the first day of the Oklahoma Classic, including a perfect game by No. 6 Oklahoma's freshman left-handed pitcher Paige Parker. The Pirates fell in game one, 5-1, to Iowa, before being no-hit by the Sooners, 11-0, in the night cap.
Parker (8-2) was dominant in Oklahoma's (20-3) five-inning win over ECU (7-18). She fanned seven batters without allowing a base runner through 5.0 innings of work.
The contest marks the first time since April 29, 2008 that the Pirates were no-hit. Seven years ago, East Carolina was unable to muster a hit at then-No. 18 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.
The Pirates' Sarah Christian (4-5) earned the starting nod for East Carolina and surrendered nine runs, eight of which were earned, on nine hits in 1.1 innings of work as she suffered the loss. Senior right-hander Caroline Umphlett came on in relief and pitched 2.2 innings while allowing just two runs, both earned, on three hits, while issuing one walk.
Most of the damage was done in the first two innings as the Pirates gave up four runs on five hits, highlighted by back-to-back home runs by Lauren Chamberlain and Shelby Pendley.
In the second inning, Christian allowed five runs on four hits including another home run by Pendley to extend the Sooners' lead to 9-0.
Pendley launched her third home run of the game, a solo shot, to lead off the fourth inning against Umphlett to make it a 10-run ballgame. Parker capped the Sooners' scoring with a home run of her own, two batters later, as Oklahoma went on to defeat the Pirates, 11-0, in five innings.
In the first game of the day, East Carolina starting right-hander Ashley Cruise (2-8) got off to a rough start as she gave up three runs on as many hits while issuing three walks in the top of the first. However, once getting out of the jam, she settled in and kept Iowa (8-16) scoreless until the fifth inning when the Hawkeyes tallied a run off of a walk, a double and a wild pitch.
Cruise finished the day allowing four runs, all earned, on five hits, with three strikeouts and five walks in 5.0 innings pitched. She was relieved by sophomore right-handed pitcher Lydia Ritchie who pitched 2.0 innings of work while allowing just one unearned run on two hits with one walk.
The Pirates' offense was held in check through six innings as Iowa starting right-hander Shayla Starkenburg (6-9) did not allow a run until the seventh inning.
In the final inning of play, East Carolina led off the frame with a single through the left side from redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne. With two outs and Wynne on first, the Pirates tallied three consecutive singles to score Wynne and leave the bases loaded. However, one run was all ECU could muster as Starkenburg struck out Ciara Ervin to end the game and earn the win.
Starkenburg allowed one earned run on six hits over 7.0 innings pitched, while striking out nine and walking two.
Wynne finished the game batting 2-for-3 with a run scored, while sophomore designated player Kacie Oshiro also tallied a multi-hit game going 2-for-3. Junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell recorded the only RBI for the Pirates as she went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run batted in.
East Carolina will get another chance at both Iowa and No. 6 Oklahoma Sunday, March 15 on the second day of the Oklahoma Classic. The Pirates and the Hawkeyes will square off at 11 a.m., before facing the Sooners at 1:15 p.m. (ET). Live stats will be available on ECUPirates.com.
