East Carolina University
Houston
Wynne Lifts East Carolina Over Houston, 4-3
April 04, 2015 | Softball
HOUSTON, Texas - Senior catcher Abby Wynne drilled her third home run in as many games to lift the East Carolina softball team over Houston, 4-3, in the final contest of the three-game series. The Pirates' victory moved ECU to 11-28 on the year and 3-6 in American Athletic Conference action, while Houston suffered its first conference loss of the season, dropping to 19-19 overall and 4-1 in league play.
Coming into the contest, Houston was in first place in the American Conference as the Cougars were the only team without a loss in league action. East Carolina came close to handing Houston its first conference loss in the first two games of the series before knocking off the Cougars, 4-3, in the finale.
The Pirates' bats got going in the top of the second inning when they plated three runs off of Houston starter Summer Groholski (5-3).
Sophomore first baseman Ali Ramirez led off the frame with a base on balls and moved to second on a single to left by junior designated player Nicole Cheek. Junior centerfielder Meredith Mitchell hit a one-out single to right field to load the bases for lead-off hitter Mary-Sloan Bradford. The freshman leftfielder roped an RBI-single to right field and advance to second on a fielding error. Sophomore rightfielder Kacie Oshiro followed and drove in Cheek on a fielder's choice while keeping the bases full of Pirates for freshman third baseman Karlie Smith who hit an RBI- sacrifice fly to leftfield.
East Carolina starting right-hander Sarah Christian surrendered a two-run home run to Courtney Klingler in the bottom of the second which cut the Pirates' lead to one (3-2). However, Christian managed to get out of the inning without further damage.
The Pirates held a one-run lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when Christian gave up a one-out double to Kris Davila then subsequently hit McKnight by a pitch. She exited the game to make way for senior right-handed pitcher Caroline Umphlett (3-5) who allowed an RBI-single to tie the game before getting out of the inning.
Christian finished the game with a no decision after pitching 5.1 innings of work and allowing three runs, all earned, on seven hits and striking out one.
With the game tied at 3-3, Wynne led off the seventh and sent a 2-2 pitch over the centerfield wall to give East Carolina a 4-3 lead. Wynne's homer marks her team-leading eighth of the year and was the eventual game-winning run as Umphlett shut down the Cougars in the bottom of the frame to collect the win.
Umphlett improved the 3-5 on the year after pitching 1.2 innings while allowing just one hit and one walk.
Groholski suffered the loss after pitching 7.0 innings and allowing four runs, three of which were earned, on nine hits, while walking two.
Wynne was 1-for-3 in the game with one RBI and one run scored, while Bradford, Cheek and Casey Alcorn all tallied multi-hit games. Bradford finished the day batting 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Cheek went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Alcorn was 2-for-4.
East Carolina returns to Greenville, N.C., to host in-state rival N.C. State in a mid-week, non-conference game on Wednesday, April 8. The doubleheader begins at 4 p.m. Live stats and video will be available on ECUPirates.com.
