East Carolina University
Houston
ECU Drops a Pair of One-Run Losses at Houston
April 03, 2015 | Softball
Game 1 Box Score 
| Game 2 Box Score
HOUSTON, Texas - Senior catcher Abby Wynne belted two home runs, one in each game, as the East Carolina softball team dropped a pair of one-run losses to American Athletic Conference foe Houston. The Pirates fell 8-7 in the first game and 2-1 in eight innings in the night cap.
In game one, Houston (19-18, 4-0 American) scored first as the Cougars plated a run in the bottom of the second on a solo home run by Tiffani McKnight. Despite the early lead, ECU (10-28, 2-6 American) starting right-hander Sarah Christian pitched herself out of the inning which allowed the Pirate offense to jump ahead, 2-1, in the top of the third.
Karlie Smith started things off with a one-out double, while Wynne reached on an error. Casey Alcorn got on base thanks to a fielder's choice that caught Smith heading to third and the Pirates loaded the bases with two outs when Ali Ramirez drew a walk. Sophomore leftfielder Ciara Ervin laced a two-run single to the right-centerfield gap to give East Carolina a 2-1 advantage.
The Pirates' lead would not last long as the Cougars plated two runs of their own in the bottom of the third before adding three runs in the fourth to take a four-run advantage (6-2).
Trailing 6-2 in the top of the fifth, Wynne drove her sixth home run of the season over the left-centerfield wall. Her homer cut Houston's lead to two (6-4) as Smith was on base after reaching on a single through the left side. Following the two-run home run, the Pirates loaded the bases, but were unable to capitalize as Houston got out of the jam.
Senior right-handed pitcher Caroline Umphlett (2-5) came on in relief of Christian who pitched 3.1 innings of work, while allowing six runs, four of which were earned, on seven hits with three walks. Umphlett did a good job of keeping the Pirates in the game as she took ECU into the seventh inning without allowing a run.
ECU batted around in the top of the seventh as the Pirates tallied three runs on as many hits to take a 7-6 lead. Ramirez reached on a one-out single and Ervin followed with a double to left-center. With one out and two runners on, senior second baseman Andie Johnson roped a double to the right-centerfield gap to give the Pirates a one-run advantage. East Carolina loaded the bases once more, but was unable to get any insurance runs across.
Holding a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Umphlett hit a rough spot as she allowed three singles, a sacrifice bunt and a base on balls. The final single of the frame was a two-run shot through the right side to win the game for Houston, 8-7.
Umphlett finished the game tossing 3.1 innings of work and allowing two runs, both earned, on six hits with one walk.
Houston used four pitchers in the game as Julana Shrum (7-9), who was the starting pitcher, re-entered the game in the seventh after the Cougars exhausted all of their pitching options. Shrum collected the win after pitching a total of 4.0 innings of work and allowing, two runs, neither of which were earned, on five hits, while fanning two and walking two.
Game one saw a total of 25 hits, 15 runs and four errors. Houston left nine runners on base, while East Carolina stranded 13.
The second game of the day, saw less offense and was more of a pitcher's duel. ECU sent sophomore right-handed pitcher Lydia Ritchie (0-3) to the circle for her second start of the season. She went up against Houston's Shelby Miller (4-4) who pitched to three batters without recording an out in the first game.
Ritchie was solid in her outing as she pitched a career-high 7.1 innings of work while allowing two runs, both earned, on six hits, with two strikeouts and one walk. She pitched her first-career complete game and lowered her season ERA to 4.79.
The night cap remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Wynne sent her team-leading seventh home run over the right-centerfield fence to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
Houston struck in the bottom of the frame when Selena Hernandez led off the inning with a home run to right field to even the score at 1-1.
The Pirates and Cougars fought through three more scoreless frames and pushed the contest into extra innings as Ritchie and Miller matched each other pitch for pitch.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Ritchie surrendered a one-out double to Katie St. Pierre. On the next at-bat, Kaylin Crumpton singled up the middle to score St. Pierre, giving Houston its second walk-off win of the day as the Cougars defeated the Pirates, 2-1, in eight innings.
Miller earned the win for the Cougars as she went the distance allowing just one run on three hits with one strike out and one walk over 8.0 innings of work.
Wynne finished the day going 3-for-8 with three runs scored, three RBIs and two home runs. Ervin was 3-for-7 with two RBIs, one run scored and a double.
East Carolina will face Houston Saturday, April 4, at 1 p.m. (ET) at Cougar Softball Stadium in the final game of the three-game series. Live stats will be available on ECUPirates.com.
