East Carolina University
Memphis
East Carolina Picks Up First American Conference Win at Memphis
March 28, 2015 | Softball
Game 1 Box Score 
| Game 2 Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The East Carolina softball team snapped an eight-game losing streak as the Pirates plated eight runs in game two to defeat Memphis 8-1 after dropping a 5-4, 12-inning contest to the Tigers in game one on Saturday. With the doubleheader split, ECU moves to 9-26 on the year and notches its first American Athletic Conference win of the year as the Pirates are now 1-4 in league play. Memphis is now 12-16 overall and 1-4 in American action.
The Pirates got a strong performance in the circle from freshman right-handed pitcher Ashley Cruise (3-11) as she tossed a complete game while allowing just one earned run on seven hits and striking out six while walking two. Cruise collected her third win of the season as she shut down the Tigers' offense in the night cap.
Cruise received run support from the East Carolina offense as the Pirates exploded for eight runs in the game - the most runs scored by ECU since the Pirates plated eight runs in an 8-10 loss against Seton Hall on February 22.
East Carolina knocked Memphis starter Katie Brignac out of the game in the fourth inning when freshman third baseman Karlie Smith led off the inning with a base on balls and later came around to score the first run of the game on a throwing error. Casey Alcorn and Ali Ramirez reached on a fielder's choice and a walk, respectively, and helped extend ECU's lead as they scored on a three-run home run over the leftfield wall by resdshirt senior second baseman Andie Johnson. The homer marked the first of Johnson's ECU career.
With a 4-0 lead, Cruise surrendered the only run of the ballgame in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI-single by Brignac, who stayed in the contest as the designated player, which scored shortstop Kyler Trosclair who had reached on a double.
Despite allowing the run in the fifth, Cruise settled back in and kept the Pirates in the game. Heading into the seventh, Cruise received a cushion when East Carolina added four insurance runs off of Memphis reliever Molly Smith. The four-run frame was highlighted by a two-run triple from Abby Wynne followed by a two-run home run from Alcorn. Alcorn now owns a team-leading five homers on the year.
Alcorn finished the game hitting 2-for-4 with two runs and a pair of RBIs, while Smith went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Wynne was 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored to improve her average to a team-best .300.
In game one, the Pirates gave senior right-handed pitcher Caroline Umphlett the start and she went 3.1 innings and allowed three runs, all earned, on as many hits, while walking four and fanning one as she earned a no decision.
ECU gave Umphlett a four-run lead to work with after scoring four runs on four hits highlighted by a two-run homer by sophomore leftfielder Ciara Ervin in the fourth. The homer was the first of Ervin's collegiate career.
However, the Tigers were quick to counter as they plated three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth before tying the game in the fifth on a solo home run by Anna Thomas. Thomas' home run was the only bump in the road for ECU reliever Sarah Christian (5-9) who pitched a solid 8.0 innings in relief until surrendering the game winning run in the 12th inning.
Christian matched Memphis' starter Jordan Richwood (6-9), who went the distance and tossed 12.0 innings of work, while allowing four runs, all earned, on 10 hits, while striking out 11 and walking four. She threw 186 pitches in the victory. Christian, finished the contest allowing two runs, both earned, on five hits, while fanning five and walking three.
The two pitchers matched each other pitch for pitch and shut down each other's offenses as the two teams battled through six scoreless innings. In the bottom of the 12th, Christian surrendered a lead-off walk to Trosclair who later scored the game-winning run in walk-off fashion on a one-out double off the bat of third baseman Cierra Mangum.
Alcorn turned in a solid offensive effort for the Pirates in game one as well going 2-for-6 with a run scored. Smith also had a multi-hit game as she was 3-for-6 in the contest.
East Carolina and Memphis face off in the rubber game of the three-game series Sunday, March 29 at 1 p.m. (ET) at Tiger Softball Complex. Live stats will be available on ECUPirates.com.
