ECU Softball Hosts No. 20 UCF in American Conference Opener
March 20, 2015 | Softball
March 20, 2015
Digging In
The East Carolina softball team opens American Athletic Conference action Saturday, March 20 when the Pirates welcome No. 20 UCF to ECU Softball Stadium. The three-game series begins with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday and concludes with a single game at 11 a.m. Sunday. On Saturday, the first 200 fans will receive a purple/gold pom pom. It is also Youth Day BOGO (buy an adult ticket, get a youth ticket free). Following the doubleheader, kids ages 12 and under can run the bases. The final game of the three-game series will take place Sunday, March 22 at 11 a.m. It is "Social Sunday," please follow ECU Athletics social media accounts for a special ticket offer. Postgame, the ECU softball team will be signing autographs on the first base side of the concourse.
The Series vs. The Knights
East Carolina and UCF will meet for the 28th time in program history on Saturday. The Pirates lead the all-time series 17-10 and are 7-5 when hosting the Knights. Despite the holding the edge in the series, ECU will be looking for its first victory over UCF since 2011 as the Knights have claimed the last six contests. The last time East Carolina defeated UCF was on April 10, 2011 at ECU Softball Stadium by a score of 1-0. Last season, UCF posted a 6-1 victory over the Pirates to complete the three-game sweep of East Carolina.
About East Carolina
East Carolina returns home for the first time since February 22. The Pirates own an overall record of 8-20 after having lost 16 of their last 18 games. As a team, ECU is batting .252 with 102 runs scored, 98 RBIs, 13 home runs and 20 stolen bases. The Pirates hold the edge on their opponents in walks (84 to 69) and stolen bases (20 to 15). Offensively, sophomore designated player Kacie Oshiro is leading the team with a .362 batting average (21-for-58). She has contributed eight RBIs, seven runs and four doubles this season. Junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell owns a .333 clip (23-for-69), for the highest average of her career. She is also the team's leader in stolen bases as she is 5-for-6 on the base paths. Mitchell has driven in nine runs and scored as many times. Redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne rounds out the trio of Pirates hitting over .300 as she owns an average of .321 (26-for-81) to go along with 17 runs, a team-best four home runs, 10 RBIs, 12 walks and four stolen bases. In the circle senior right-handed pitcher Sarah Christian has been most effective for East Carolina as she has appeared in 18 games with 14 starts. Christian owns a 3.31 ERA with a 5-5 record. She has pitched six complete games including three shutouts this season. She has fanned 40 batters over 67.2 innings of work while only allowing 11 walks. Freshman righty Ashley Cruise leads the Pirates in strikeouts with 41 in 59.1 innings pitched. She is 2-10 on the year with a 5.31 ERA with 16 appearances, 11 starts, three complete games and one shutout.
Scouting No. 20 UCF
UCF comes to Greenville, N.C., as the 20th ranked team in the nation as it has compiled a 26-5 record. The Knights are 3-1 on the road and an impressive 18-3 while playing at home. As a team, UCF has a strong pitching staff with a conference leading 1.00 ERA while striking out 305 batters, 80 of which were caught looking. Offensively, the Knights are batting .286 with 139 runs scored and 128 runs batted in. Linnea Goodman leads the Knights with a .380 batting average after going 41-for-108. She also adds 14 runs and 11 RBIs. Kalyn Cenal is UCF's home run leader with six on the year. She has also posted 10 runs and a team-leading 24 RBIs. Kahley Novak is known for her speed as she is 25-for-29 on the base paths. Additionally, Novak has recorded 17 runs to tie for the team lead along with Farrah Sullivan who owns a .329 batting average (24-for-73). Mackenzie Audas is the Knights No. 1 pitcher as she owns a conference-leading 0.88 ERA and a 13-0 record. She leads the league with 153 strikeouts and has tossed 10 complete games with six shutouts over 95.2 innings of work. Shelby Turner has put together a 12-5 record with a 1.06 ERA in 18 appearances with 15 starts. She has posted 11 complete games and four shutouts on the year. Her 133 strikeouts are good for second in the league.
Quality Opponents
This season East Carolina softball will face several quality opponents throughout a competitive schedule. The slate features a number of teams which rank in the top 50 in RPI as well as nine opponents which appeared in the 2014 NCAA Regionals. The Pirates' conference schedule is just as demanding as four (UCF, Houston, Tulsa, USF) of the seven American Athletic Conference schools saw action in the NCAA Regionals a year ago. Two of the Pirates opponents are ranked in the Top 25 poll in No. 6/5 Oklahoma and No. 17/15 UCF. Additionally, East Carolina has five teams (South Carolina, James Madison, Virginia Tech, NC State and Utah) on its schedule that are currently receiving votes.
Movin' on Up
Senior right-handed pitcher Sarah Christian is moving up in the East Carolina record books as she is ranked sixth all-time in wins (55), appearances (134), games started (99), innings pitched (618.1) and is tied for sixth in strikeouts (328). She also comes in seventh in complete games (55). This season, the Greenville, N.C., native is 5-5 with a team-best 3.31 ERA with six complete games and three shutouts. She has recorded 40 strikeouts in 67.2 innings of work with just 11 walks.
Casey at the Bat
Junior shortstop Casey Alcorn has been a consistent force at the plate this season for the Pirates. The Hummelstown, Pa., native owns a .295 batting average and a team-best .538 slugging percentage. She leads the team in several offensive categories including slugging percentage, runs (19), RBIs (17) doubles (5), home runs (4). She also has added one triple, eight walks and two stolen bases. In addition to her offensive prowess, Alcorn has also been an integral part of the ECU defense earning 27 starts at shortstop. Alcorn leads the team in assists with 69 and has recorded 38 putouts. Her 69 assists rank her second in the American Athletic Conference.
Just in Kacie
Sophomore Kacie Oshiro, who has seen action as the designated player as well as in the outfield this season, has found herself not only in the starting lineup, but also leading the Pirates with a .362 (21-for-58) batting average. The Mililani, Hawaii native has been a key component in the Pirates' lineup as she has seen more time in the No. 2 hole after recording eight RBIs, seven runs and four doubles in 20 games. Oshiro has come up big in pressure situations as she boasts a .409 batting average with runners in scoring position and has successfully advanced base runners more than 50-percent of the time (.514, 18-for-35).
Don't Even Try It
Redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne has been stout behind the plate this season. She has done an excellent job throwing out runners attempting to steal as she has caught nine runners on 15 attempts. Wynne is first in the conference after having caught nine runners attempting to steal. In addition to her solid defense, Wynne has also produced on the offensive end as well. She is hitting .321 (26-for-81) with 17 runs scored, 10 RBIs, four home runs, two doubles with four stolen bases in as many attempts. She leads the Pirates in hits (26) and home runs (4).
Speed on the Base Paths
Junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell and freshman Mary-Sloan Bradford are leading the Pirates this season with five stolen bases. MItchell is 5-for-6 on the year and has now amassed 17 stolen bases on 21 tries throughout her ECU career. Just behind the duo is redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne who is 4-for-4. As a team, East Carolina has swiped 20-of-26 stolen bases in 28 games thus far.
Walk This Way
Freshman left fielder Mary-Sloan Bradford has drawn 23 walks in 28 games to lead the Pirates. Her 23 walks are also good for tops in the American Athletic Conference. Bradford is averaging 0.92 walks per game which ranks her 18th in the nation. The product of Windermere, Fla., owns an on-base percentage of .453, which leads East Carolina and is good for eighth in the league. Once on base, Bradford does her job on the base paths has she has scored 16 times and has swiped five bases in eight attempts.
All-Tournament Honors
At the Outrigger Resorts Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell was the lone Pirate named to the All-Tournament Team. She led the team with a .455 batting average after going 5-for-11 in five games. Additionally, she scored three runs, drove in one run and tallied six total bases. Mitchell drew two walks and recorded a double to own a slugging percentage of .545, while registering a .538 on-base percentage during the tournament. The all-tournament team nod was her second of the year as she was also named to the Pirate Classic All-Tournament Team along with five of her teammates. The Pirates had a successful season-opening tournament as ECU saw six players receive Pirate Classic All-Tournament Team honors. After winning the tournament, freshmen Ashley Cruise and Mary-Sloan Bradford were named Most Valuable Pitcher and Most Valuable Player, respectively. Additionally, sophomore Ali Ramirez, juniors Casey Alcorn and Mitchell, along with redshirt senior Abby Wynne were also named to the Pirate Classic All-Tournament Team.
Returning Home
Keli Harrell, East Carolina's all-time saves leader, returned to her alma mater on January 22 as she was hired as an interim assistant coach. Her hiring marks Harrell's second stint on the Pirates' coaching staff as she previously served as a graduate assistant from 2007-10. During that time, she played an integral role in guiding ECU to lead the league in several pitching categories, including earned run average (1.45), strikeouts (467), and wins (44). In her final year on staff, Harrell helped lead East Carolina to its first-ever Conference USA Tournament Championship as the Pirates made an appearance in the NCAA Regionals for just the third time in program history. She looks to bring the same success to the Pirates in 2015.
Quick Hits
? On January 15, head softball coach Beth Keylon-Randolph was granted an extended administrative leave of absence due to personal reasons.
? Sophomore catcher Alex Mycek will redshirt the 2015 season due to an injury.
? Freshman Ashton Stowe is out indefinitely due to injuries.
On Deck
East Carolina hits the road for a mid-week, non-conference doubleheader at UNC Wilmington on Wednesday, March 25. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
| East Carolina vs. No. 20 UCF | |
| Dates | Saturday, March 21 - Sunday, March 22 |
| Times | 1 p.m. & 11 a.m. |
| Location | Greenville, N.C. | ECU Softball Stadium |
| Game Notes | East Carolina |The American |
| Coverage | Live Stats (Saturday)| Video (Saturday) Live Stats (Sunday)| Video (Sunday) |
| @ECUScoreboard | |
Digging In
The East Carolina softball team opens American Athletic Conference action Saturday, March 20 when the Pirates welcome No. 20 UCF to ECU Softball Stadium. The three-game series begins with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday and concludes with a single game at 11 a.m. Sunday. On Saturday, the first 200 fans will receive a purple/gold pom pom. It is also Youth Day BOGO (buy an adult ticket, get a youth ticket free). Following the doubleheader, kids ages 12 and under can run the bases. The final game of the three-game series will take place Sunday, March 22 at 11 a.m. It is "Social Sunday," please follow ECU Athletics social media accounts for a special ticket offer. Postgame, the ECU softball team will be signing autographs on the first base side of the concourse.
The Series vs. The Knights
East Carolina and UCF will meet for the 28th time in program history on Saturday. The Pirates lead the all-time series 17-10 and are 7-5 when hosting the Knights. Despite the holding the edge in the series, ECU will be looking for its first victory over UCF since 2011 as the Knights have claimed the last six contests. The last time East Carolina defeated UCF was on April 10, 2011 at ECU Softball Stadium by a score of 1-0. Last season, UCF posted a 6-1 victory over the Pirates to complete the three-game sweep of East Carolina.
About East Carolina
East Carolina returns home for the first time since February 22. The Pirates own an overall record of 8-20 after having lost 16 of their last 18 games. As a team, ECU is batting .252 with 102 runs scored, 98 RBIs, 13 home runs and 20 stolen bases. The Pirates hold the edge on their opponents in walks (84 to 69) and stolen bases (20 to 15). Offensively, sophomore designated player Kacie Oshiro is leading the team with a .362 batting average (21-for-58). She has contributed eight RBIs, seven runs and four doubles this season. Junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell owns a .333 clip (23-for-69), for the highest average of her career. She is also the team's leader in stolen bases as she is 5-for-6 on the base paths. Mitchell has driven in nine runs and scored as many times. Redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne rounds out the trio of Pirates hitting over .300 as she owns an average of .321 (26-for-81) to go along with 17 runs, a team-best four home runs, 10 RBIs, 12 walks and four stolen bases. In the circle senior right-handed pitcher Sarah Christian has been most effective for East Carolina as she has appeared in 18 games with 14 starts. Christian owns a 3.31 ERA with a 5-5 record. She has pitched six complete games including three shutouts this season. She has fanned 40 batters over 67.2 innings of work while only allowing 11 walks. Freshman righty Ashley Cruise leads the Pirates in strikeouts with 41 in 59.1 innings pitched. She is 2-10 on the year with a 5.31 ERA with 16 appearances, 11 starts, three complete games and one shutout.
Scouting No. 20 UCF
UCF comes to Greenville, N.C., as the 20th ranked team in the nation as it has compiled a 26-5 record. The Knights are 3-1 on the road and an impressive 18-3 while playing at home. As a team, UCF has a strong pitching staff with a conference leading 1.00 ERA while striking out 305 batters, 80 of which were caught looking. Offensively, the Knights are batting .286 with 139 runs scored and 128 runs batted in. Linnea Goodman leads the Knights with a .380 batting average after going 41-for-108. She also adds 14 runs and 11 RBIs. Kalyn Cenal is UCF's home run leader with six on the year. She has also posted 10 runs and a team-leading 24 RBIs. Kahley Novak is known for her speed as she is 25-for-29 on the base paths. Additionally, Novak has recorded 17 runs to tie for the team lead along with Farrah Sullivan who owns a .329 batting average (24-for-73). Mackenzie Audas is the Knights No. 1 pitcher as she owns a conference-leading 0.88 ERA and a 13-0 record. She leads the league with 153 strikeouts and has tossed 10 complete games with six shutouts over 95.2 innings of work. Shelby Turner has put together a 12-5 record with a 1.06 ERA in 18 appearances with 15 starts. She has posted 11 complete games and four shutouts on the year. Her 133 strikeouts are good for second in the league.
Quality Opponents
This season East Carolina softball will face several quality opponents throughout a competitive schedule. The slate features a number of teams which rank in the top 50 in RPI as well as nine opponents which appeared in the 2014 NCAA Regionals. The Pirates' conference schedule is just as demanding as four (UCF, Houston, Tulsa, USF) of the seven American Athletic Conference schools saw action in the NCAA Regionals a year ago. Two of the Pirates opponents are ranked in the Top 25 poll in No. 6/5 Oklahoma and No. 17/15 UCF. Additionally, East Carolina has five teams (South Carolina, James Madison, Virginia Tech, NC State and Utah) on its schedule that are currently receiving votes.
Movin' on Up
Senior right-handed pitcher Sarah Christian is moving up in the East Carolina record books as she is ranked sixth all-time in wins (55), appearances (134), games started (99), innings pitched (618.1) and is tied for sixth in strikeouts (328). She also comes in seventh in complete games (55). This season, the Greenville, N.C., native is 5-5 with a team-best 3.31 ERA with six complete games and three shutouts. She has recorded 40 strikeouts in 67.2 innings of work with just 11 walks.
Casey at the Bat
Junior shortstop Casey Alcorn has been a consistent force at the plate this season for the Pirates. The Hummelstown, Pa., native owns a .295 batting average and a team-best .538 slugging percentage. She leads the team in several offensive categories including slugging percentage, runs (19), RBIs (17) doubles (5), home runs (4). She also has added one triple, eight walks and two stolen bases. In addition to her offensive prowess, Alcorn has also been an integral part of the ECU defense earning 27 starts at shortstop. Alcorn leads the team in assists with 69 and has recorded 38 putouts. Her 69 assists rank her second in the American Athletic Conference.
Just in Kacie
Sophomore Kacie Oshiro, who has seen action as the designated player as well as in the outfield this season, has found herself not only in the starting lineup, but also leading the Pirates with a .362 (21-for-58) batting average. The Mililani, Hawaii native has been a key component in the Pirates' lineup as she has seen more time in the No. 2 hole after recording eight RBIs, seven runs and four doubles in 20 games. Oshiro has come up big in pressure situations as she boasts a .409 batting average with runners in scoring position and has successfully advanced base runners more than 50-percent of the time (.514, 18-for-35).
Don't Even Try It
Redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne has been stout behind the plate this season. She has done an excellent job throwing out runners attempting to steal as she has caught nine runners on 15 attempts. Wynne is first in the conference after having caught nine runners attempting to steal. In addition to her solid defense, Wynne has also produced on the offensive end as well. She is hitting .321 (26-for-81) with 17 runs scored, 10 RBIs, four home runs, two doubles with four stolen bases in as many attempts. She leads the Pirates in hits (26) and home runs (4).
Speed on the Base Paths
Junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell and freshman Mary-Sloan Bradford are leading the Pirates this season with five stolen bases. MItchell is 5-for-6 on the year and has now amassed 17 stolen bases on 21 tries throughout her ECU career. Just behind the duo is redshirt senior catcher Abby Wynne who is 4-for-4. As a team, East Carolina has swiped 20-of-26 stolen bases in 28 games thus far.
Walk This Way
Freshman left fielder Mary-Sloan Bradford has drawn 23 walks in 28 games to lead the Pirates. Her 23 walks are also good for tops in the American Athletic Conference. Bradford is averaging 0.92 walks per game which ranks her 18th in the nation. The product of Windermere, Fla., owns an on-base percentage of .453, which leads East Carolina and is good for eighth in the league. Once on base, Bradford does her job on the base paths has she has scored 16 times and has swiped five bases in eight attempts.
All-Tournament Honors
At the Outrigger Resorts Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell was the lone Pirate named to the All-Tournament Team. She led the team with a .455 batting average after going 5-for-11 in five games. Additionally, she scored three runs, drove in one run and tallied six total bases. Mitchell drew two walks and recorded a double to own a slugging percentage of .545, while registering a .538 on-base percentage during the tournament. The all-tournament team nod was her second of the year as she was also named to the Pirate Classic All-Tournament Team along with five of her teammates. The Pirates had a successful season-opening tournament as ECU saw six players receive Pirate Classic All-Tournament Team honors. After winning the tournament, freshmen Ashley Cruise and Mary-Sloan Bradford were named Most Valuable Pitcher and Most Valuable Player, respectively. Additionally, sophomore Ali Ramirez, juniors Casey Alcorn and Mitchell, along with redshirt senior Abby Wynne were also named to the Pirate Classic All-Tournament Team.
Returning Home
Keli Harrell, East Carolina's all-time saves leader, returned to her alma mater on January 22 as she was hired as an interim assistant coach. Her hiring marks Harrell's second stint on the Pirates' coaching staff as she previously served as a graduate assistant from 2007-10. During that time, she played an integral role in guiding ECU to lead the league in several pitching categories, including earned run average (1.45), strikeouts (467), and wins (44). In her final year on staff, Harrell helped lead East Carolina to its first-ever Conference USA Tournament Championship as the Pirates made an appearance in the NCAA Regionals for just the third time in program history. She looks to bring the same success to the Pirates in 2015.
Quick Hits
? On January 15, head softball coach Beth Keylon-Randolph was granted an extended administrative leave of absence due to personal reasons.
? Sophomore catcher Alex Mycek will redshirt the 2015 season due to an injury.
? Freshman Ashton Stowe is out indefinitely due to injuries.
On Deck
East Carolina hits the road for a mid-week, non-conference doubleheader at UNC Wilmington on Wednesday, March 25. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Infield
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Pitcher
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P
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Outfield
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C
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OF/C
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1B
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OF
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Catcher/Outfield
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