East Carolina University
Hawai'i
East Carolina Drops Six-Inning Decision to Hawaii
March 09, 2015 | Softball
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The East Carolina softball team got on the board first, but was unable to hold the lead as the Pirates fell to Hawaii, 11-3, in six innings on the final day of the Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament. With the loss, ECU falls to 7-15 on the year, while the Rainbow Wahine improves to 16-9.
The Pirates finished the tournament with a 1-4 record as they snapped an eight-game losing streak dating back to February 21. As a team, ECU hit .222 with 13 runs scored, three doubles and a pair of home runs to go along with 11 walks in five tournament games.
Mitchell turned in an excellent performance as the junior centerfielder finished the tournament with a team-leading .455 batting average (5-for-11) with three runs scored, one RBI, one double, six total bases, two walks, a .545 slugging percentage and a .538 on-base percentage en route to being named to the Hawaii Spring Fling All-Tournament Team.
On the final day of tournament action, the Pirates scored the first run of the game on a single up the middle from Megan Quick that plated Casey Alcorn who reached on an infield single in the second inning. However, ECU's lead was short-lived as Hawaii's lead-off hitter Kayla Wartner belted a two-run home run to centerfield to give the Rainbow Wahine a 2-1 advantage.
Hawaii extended its lead to 7-1 after a five-run fourth inning which was highlighted by a three-run homer from Lindsey Willmon that knocked ECU starting right-handed pitcher Sarah Christian (4-4) out of the game. In her outing, Christian surrendered seven earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 3.2 innings pitched. She was relieved by senior righty Caroline Umphlett who got the Pirates out of the frame.
East Carolina mounted a comeback in the top of the fifth as Quick, Mitchell and Ciara Ervin started things off with three consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs. Mary-Sloan Bradford worked the count and drew a bases-loaded walk to make it a 7-2 ballgame, while keeping the bases full of Pirates without any outs. However, the Pirates' rally was halted when Hawaii right-hander Kanani Aina Cabrales (8-6), who came on in relief of starter Brittany Hitchcock, got Karlie Smith to fly out before striking out Abby Wynne. The Pirates tallied one more run after Alcorn was hit by a pitch which scored Mitchell. Despite getting another run across, East Carolina was unable to capitalize as Ali Ramirez struck out leaving bases loaded.
The Rainbow Wahine added another three runs in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back home runs by Rachel Lack and Leisha Liilii to put Hawaii head 10-3.
Hawaii added its final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth as Liilii roped a walk-off double to left-center to end the game and give the Rainbow Wahine the 11-3 victory.
Mitchell finished the game batting .333 (1-for-3) with a run scored, while Quick went 2-for-3 (.667 batting average) with one RBI and one run scored. Alcorn concluded the day hitting .500 after going 1-for-2 with one run scored and one run batted in.
Umphlett pitched 2.0 innings of work while allowing four earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
Aina Cabrales earned the win for Hawaii after pitching 4.0 innings of work and allowing two earned runs on three hits, while fanning three and walking two.
East Carolina will take on Hawaii one last time before heading back to the mainland when the Pirates and Rainbow Wahine faceoff Tuesday, March 10 at 6 p.m. Hawaiian Time (Wednesday, March 11 at midnight Eastern Time). Live stats will be available on ECUPirates.com.
Outrigger Resorts Hawaii Spring Fling All-Tournament Team
CJ Chirichingo, Oregon State
Kate Dickman, Utah
Kori Nishitomi, Oregon State
Marissa Mendenhall, Utah
Justina Augustine, Longwood
Kayla Wartner, Hawaii
Meredith Mitchell, East Carolina
Glen Walters, Longwood
Dani Gilmore, Oregon State
Hannah Flippen, Utah
Most Valuable Player - Heather Morales, Hawaii
Most Valuable Pitcher, Brittany Hitchcock, Hawaii
