East Carolina University
Iowa
East Carolina Defeats Iowa, Falls to No. 6 Oklahoma
March 15, 2015 | Softball
NORMAN, Okla. - Senior right-handed pitcher Sarah Christian turned in a solid extra-inning performance as she helped the East Carolina softball team to a 3-2 eight-inning victory over Iowa, before the Pirates dropped a 23-1 decision to No. 6 Oklahoma in five innings.
Christian (5-5) allowed a run in the third as Iowa (8-17) took an early 1-0 lead, however, East Carolina (8-19) was quick to counter as the Pirates tied the game on a Casey Alcorn home run in the top of the fourth. The homer marked the fourth round-tripper for Alcorn this season.
The Pirates got a stout effort from Christian as she kept the Hawkeyes off the board for the next five innings forcing the game into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, ECU scored two runs as Kacie Oshiro, who was placed on second due to the international tie-breaker rule, scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield off the bat of Alcorn. Redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne, who reached on a base on balls, later came around to score on a wild pitch and RBI-single from Nicole Cheek to give the Pirates a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Iowa managed to plate one run in the bottom of the frame after two singles and fielder's choice brought in Erin Erickson who began the inning on second base. However, one run was all the Hawkeyes could muster as Christian earned the win after pitching 8.0 innings of work and allowing two runs, none of which were earned, on six hits. She struck out six and walked one in the victory.
Ashley Yoways (2-8) was the starting pitcher for the Hawkeyes and suffered the loss after pitching 7.2 innings while allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on two hits, while walking eight and fanning two. She was relieved by Shayla Starkenburg who surrendered one hit in 0.1 innings of work.
Alcorn finished the game batting 1-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored, while Cheek went 1-for-1 with an RBI and two walks.
In the night cap against Oklahoma (21-3), the Pirates got on board first thanks to a solo home run by Ali Ramirez in the top of the second. East Carolina's 1-0 lead marked the first time in 56-innings that Oklahoma has trailed.
The Pirates' lead was short-lived, however, as the Sooners tied the game in the bottom half of the frame on a solo shot from Kady Self.
Freshman right-hander Ashley Cruise (2-9) did a good job keeping the Sooners scoreless in the bottom of the first and only allowing one run in the second. However, she got into a jam in the third when she surrendered nine runs before exiting the game for sophomore right-hander Lydia Ritchie. Ritchie was unable to record an out and was replaced by senior right-handed pitcher Caroline Umphlett after giving up five runs. Umphlett came on in relief and closed out the inning after allowing three runs, but the damage had been done and ECU trailed Oklahoma 18-1.
The Sooners weren't done scoring as they tallied five more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 23-1 lead. Oklahoma finished the game with a total of eight home runs in the contest.
Kelsey Stevens, who earned the start for OU pitched 2.2 innings and gave up one run on as many hits while walking four and fanning three, was credited with the no decision. Shelby Pendley (6-1) came on in relief and earned the win after pitching 2.1 innings and allowing just two hits while striking out three.
East Carolina returns to action at Elon on Wednesday, March 18 at 6 p.m.
