East Carolina University
Saint Francis (PA)
Softball Sweeps Final Day Of Pirate Clash
February 21, 2016 | Softball
East Carolina 1, Bucknell 0 
| East Carolina 8, St. Francis 5
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina picked up a pair of wins on the final day of the Pirate Clash, defeating Bucknell 1-0 and St. Francis (Pa.) 8-5 Sunday at the ECU Softball Stadium. In winning four of six games over the weekend, the Pirates improved to 7-5 overall.
Senior shortstop Casey Alcorn had a solid day at the plate, tallying four hits, two runs scored, three RBI, a double, a triple and a home run. In the nightcap, she was 2 for 5 with a run scored, three RBI, a double and a home run. Senior catcher Kelsi Briggs and junior outfielder Kacie Oshiro also chipped in with two RBI apiece in the win over the Red Flash.
Junior RHP Lydia Ritchie tossed her second complete-game shutout of the season in the first contest before picking up the win in relief in the final game. She scattered six hits against the Bison and struck out two batters. Ritchie threw 2.2 scoreless innings versus St. Francis allowing one hit, walking two and striking out three.
Amanda Fazio and Carolyn Wan notched a pair of hits each for Bucknell while Hayley Norton had a big day for the Red Flash with two hits, a run scored and five RBI.
How it Happened (Game 1): The Bison loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first via a single, a stolen base, a hit by pitch, a passed ball and a walk. However, Ritchie induced two popups to escape damage. The Pirates put up a little threat of their own in the home half, but stranded two runners after a strikeout and groundout. Bucknell loaded the bases again in the top of the third with one out, but Ritchie was up to the task once more and erased the Bison with a pop out and groundout. The Bison had yet another opportunity to dent the scoreboard in the fourth. Wan singled with one out before Amanda Fazio reached on a throwing error at third. Fazio proceeded to steal second before Ritchie threw Wan out at home on a fielder's choice play. Ritchie would finish the job by striking out Lauren Hadley looking. ECU broke through in the bottom of the fourth as Alcorn tripled past a diving center fielder to lead off. Sophomore infielder Karlie Smith then grounded out to second, allowing Alcorn to score the game's only run. East Carolina had a chance to put the game away in the bottom of the sixth but could not cash in with runners on the corners and just one away. Ritchie sealed the shutout in the top of the seventh, however, setting Bucknell down in order.
How it Happened (Game 2): Batting as the visiting team, ECU scored a pair of runs in the top of the first thanks to Alcorn's first home run of the season. After Mitchell led off the game with a single, Alcorn drove a 0-1 pitch over the left center field wall with one out. Norton answered in the bottom of the first though, also clubbing a two-run homer to left center. St. Francis took the lead in the bottom of the second with two outs as Norton delivered again with a bases clearing, three-run triple to the wall in center to stake her team to a 5-2 lead. East Carolina battled back in the top of the fourth as Briggs doubled to begin the inning. Junior first baseman Ali Ramirez proceeded to draw a walk before a fielder's choice and groundout put two outs on the board. Oshiro found a gap in right center and drove in both runners to slice the SFU lead to 5-4. Alcorn kept the hit parade going with a double of her own that scored Oshiro and tied the contest going to the home half. Both pitchers escaped jams in the fifth inning before the Pirates plated three runs in the sixth off of three hits to push ahead, 8-5. Sophomore infielder Kerry Butler came through with a RBI single and Briggs hit her second double of the game to score the other two runs. The Red Flash put up one last threat in the bottom of the seventh. Kendra Witthus doubled to lead off the half inning before Norton drew a one-out walk. Ritchie would close it out, however, with a fly ball out and swinging strikeout.
Bits and Pieces: East Carolina defeated Bucknell twice in three contests during the tournament to improve to 5-4 all-time against the Bison … The Pirates avenged yesterday's loss to St. Francis as they are now 2-2 against the Red Flash … ECU improved to 29-12 all-time in the Pirate Clash and 76-60 at the ECU Softball Stadium … After failing to record her first victory of last season in the circle until April, Ritchie has three wins in the first 12 games of 2016 … With seven wins in its first 12 outings, ECU is already nine triumphs away from matching last season's total (16) … In hitting her first home run of the season, Alcorn is now alone in ninth place on the program career chart with 19 long balls … In today's two games, the teams combined to leave 29 runners on base as well as issued 23 walks … East Carolina is 6-1 this season when scoring first, 4-1 when out-hitting its opponent and 3-0 when hits are tied … The Pirates improved to 2-1 in one-run games and posted their first 1-0 victory since defeating South Carolina in Greenville Feb. 8, 2015 … ECU recorded six two-out RBI and was 5 for 12 (.417) at the dish with two outs on the board.
Up Next: East Carolina will travel to Kissimmee, Fla. next weekend for the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic II at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex. The Pirates will battle Notre Dame and Bryant Friday at 1:15 and 5:45 p.m. on the first day of the event.
