East Carolina University
Charlotte
East Carolina Drops 5-0 Decision At Charlotte
February 17, 2016 | Softball
Box Score | Charlotte 5, East Carolina 0 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Lexi Betancourt tossed a complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts to propel Charlotte over East Carolina Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference softball contest at the D.L. Phillips Softball Complex.
ECU (3-3) was held to just two hits while the 49ers (4-0) piled up 11 base knocks and took advantage of a pair of Pirate errors.
Seniors Meredith Mitchell and Kelsi Briggs recorded the East Carolina hits and junior catcher Alex Mycek drew a pair of walks. Becca Shipper paced Charlotte with three hits and a RBI while Kiersten Berrier drove in two runs.
Sophomore Ashley Cruise took the loss and dropped to 2-1 after allowing five runs (three earned) on 11 hits. Betancourt improved to 3-0 with the complete-game victory.
How it Happened: After ECU was set down in order in the top of the first, Shipper and Berrier reached on consecutive singles before Grace Beatty singled with one out to load the bases. Haley Pace grounded out to second to score the game's first run but Cruise prevented further damage with a strikeout. The pitchers settled in from there and neither team had a runner reach third base until the bottom of the sixth inning when the 49ers put the game away. A single by Bailey Rhoney loaded the bases with one away followed by a single, fielder's choice and sac fly that resulted in four runs crossing the plate to provide the final five-run margin. The Pirates put up one last threat in the top of the seventh as Mycek worked a leadoff walk and Briggs hit a sharp single to right field. However, Betancourt struck out the final two ECU batters to end the game.
Bits and Pieces: East Carolina dropped to 25-10 overall against Charlotte … The Pirates were 1 for 10 at the plate with runners on base … Briggs stretched her current hitting streak to five games with her single in the seventh inning … Cruise threw 104 pitches of which 74 were strikes … Mycek's pair of walks increased her team-leading total to five … In four appearances, Mycek has thrown out two of three batters attempting to steal second base … ECU is 3-0 when batting as the home team this season but 0-3 when hitting as the visitors.
Up Next: East Carolina opens its home schedule this weekend hosting the Pirate Clash. The event features 11 games over three days as the Pirates welcome Bucknell, St. Francis (Pa.) and UMass to the ECU Softball Stadium.
