East Carolina University
Connecticut
ECU Blasts Two Grand Slams in Doubleheader Split
April 25, 2015 | Softball
Box Score (Game 1) 
| Box Score (Game 2)
GREENVILLE, N.C. - After dropping game one to UConn, 3-1, East Carolina's offense exploded in the night cap as Abby Wynne and Karlie Smith belted a pair of grand slams to lead the Pirate softball team to a 15-3 victory over the Huskies on senior weekend.
East Carolina (15-36, 6-11 American) sent senior right-handed pitcher Sarah Christian (6-13) to the circle to start game two, marking her 109th career start. The Greenville, N.C., native got off to a rocky start as she allowed two runs on two hits, while walking one and hitting another.
Despite falling behind 2-0 early on, the Pirates were unfazed as they sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on as many hits in the second inning to take an 8-2 advantage over UConn (17-29, 4-9 American).
"I'm really proud of the team and how we battled back," Senior catcher and team captain Wynne said. "We didn't score the runs we needed to score [in game one], but we took the momentum and brought it to the second game."
Junior shortstop Casey Alcorn led off the inning with a single to left and advanced to second after sophomore first baseman Ali Ramirez drew a walk. UConn starting pitcher Chelsea Eckert (6-12) loaded the bases after Megan Quick reached on an infield single, and Andie Johnson followed by driving in the first ECU run of the game on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
"Andie is always going to battle," Interim head coach Steve Jaecks said of his senior second baseman. "She is a competitor."
With one out and runners on first and second, junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell dropped a bunt single in front of the plate to fill the bases again. Sophomore leftfielder Ciara Ervin recorded an RBI-single to right and was followed by sophomore rightfielder Kacie Oshiro who roped a two-run single to left giving the Pirates a 4-2 lead.
Smith sent a single to left to load the bases for the third time in the frame. With the bases full of Pirates, UConn made a pitching change and brought in Lauren Duggan to face Wynne who stepped to the plate and belted a grand slam, her 15th-career home run, to cap an eight-run inning for East Carolina.
"Abby is an unbelievable leader," Jaecks said of his senior captain. "She can get it done on the field over and over. It was great to see her perform so well on senior day."
"That was amazing," Wynne said of her grand slam. "I came around to score and the team all said they called it. I was just really happy."
The Pirates' offense was not done yet. Johnson led off the third inning with an infield single and moved to second on a base hit by Mitchell. Oshiro sent a one-out single up the middle to load the bases for Smith. UConn went to the bullpen and brought in Kayla Doty who Smith hit her first-career home run, a grand slam, against. Her grand slam was the second of the game as East Carolina extended its lead to 10 (12-2).
UConn scored a run in the top of the fourth to cut the Pirates' lead to nine (12-3), but Christian would not allow any more runs to score.
"Sarah is a given," Interim head coach Steve Jaecks said of his senior starter. "You know exactly what you are going to get out of her time in and time out."
ECU added to its lead in the bottom half of the fourth and the Huskies made their fourth pitching change of the game after Doty loaded the bases with one out. Alyson Ambler came on in relief and got the first batter to foul out. However, the Pirates would capitalize on a UConn fielding error and score three more runs to make it a 15-3 ballgame.
Senior right-handed pitcher Caroline Umphlett relieved Christian in the fifth inning as all four seniors saw action in the contest. Umphlett allowed one hit and two base runners before ending the game on a strikeout.
"Caroline is tough," Jaecks said. "You saw what she can do. Those four [seniors] are great players. I wish they were coming back."
Christian earned her sixth win of the season after tossing 4.0 innings of work and allowing three runs, all earned, on four hits, while fanning three and walking one. Umphlett surrendered just one hit, while striking out three in 1.0 inning pitched.
Eckert suffered the loss as she allowed seven runs, all earned, on six hits, while striking out two and walking two in 1.1 innings pitched.
The Pirates' offense was stout as they tallied 15 runs in a game for the first time since 2013. ECU also recorded 15 hits in game two following a two-hit performance in game one, one of which was a solo home run by Ramirez.
Ramirez's homer came in the bottom of the second and gave East Carolina a 1-0 lead. However, the Huskies would fight back and tie the game in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly.
The game would remain tied at 1-1 until the sixth inning when sophomore right-hander Lydia Ritchie (3-7) gave up a solo home run to Jacklyn Dubois. UConn would add an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI-single to make it a 3-1 contest.
Despite allowing just three runs on seven hits, Ritchie was credited with the loss. She struck out three over 7.0 innings pitched.
Duggan (10-11), who was the game one starter for UConn, earned the win after surrendering one run on two hits and walking three in 7.0 innings of work.
Wynne finished the day batting 3-for-7 with a career-high five RBIs and a run scored. Mitchell was 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Smith was 2-for-7 with five RBIs and two runs scored, while Oshiro went 2-for-7 with two runs and two driven in, and Ramirez wrapped up the doubleheader going 1-for-6 with two runs and an RBI.
The Pirates belted three home runs on the day and outscored the Huskies 16-6.
East Carolina and UConn will face off in the rubber game on Sunday, April 26. The final game of the regular-season for the Pirates is set for 12 noon. Live stats and video will be available.
