East Carolina University
Bryant
ECU Rides Ritchie's Complete-Game Shutout To Split
February 26, 2016 | Softball
No. 23 Notre Dame 8, East Carolina 0 
| East Carolina 1, Bryant 0
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - After falling to No. 23 Notre Dame 8-0 Friday afternoon, the East Carolina softball team used a complete-game shutout by junior RHP Lydia Ritchie to blank Bryant 1-0 in the evening on the first day of the Citrus Classic II at the ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Ritchie now has three complete-game shutouts this season and two in her last three appearances. She has not allowed a run in 16.2 innings of work and improved to 4-1 with the victory over Bryant during which she struck out five batters and allowed just one hit. Colby Norris took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing one run on three hits with six strikeouts.
Senior outfielder Meredith Mitchell tallied a pair of hits against Bryant while junior first baseman Ali Ramirez notched the only run of the game via a solo home run - the Pirates' eighth long ball of the season. Elle Madsen recorded the only base hit of the ballgame for the Bulldogs.
In the first contest, freshman RHP Mary Williams dropped to 2-2 overall after surrendering eight runs (four earned) on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts in a complete-game effort. Allie Rhodes picked up the win for the Fighting Irish, scattering three hits and striking out 10 East Carolina batters.
Mitchell was one of four ECU players that posted a hit against Notre Dame while Karley Wester went 3-for-3 with two runs scored for the Fighting Irish.
How it Happened (Game 1): Notre Dame jumped on top early, scoring the game's first run in the top of the first inning via a RBI groundout off the bat of Caitlyn Brooks. Williams continued to keep the Fighting Irish bats quiet and allowed just two hits through four innings. However, Notre Dame continued to pile on the RBI groundouts and turned a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning into a 4-0 advantage through six complete. ECU put up a threat in the bottom of the fifth as a Ramirez double put Pirate runners on second and third with two away but a strikeout terminated the inning. The Fighting Irish put the game away in the top of the seventh scoring four runs on three hits and two East Carolina errors.
How it Happened (Game 2): With the Pirates batting as the visitors, Mitchell led off the contest with a single up the middle. ECU had runners at first and second following a walk by sophomore third baseman Karlie Smith, but a looking strikeout ended the half inning. Bryant would pick up its only hit of the contest in the home half via a two-out bloop single. However, a pop up to third would signal the end of the first. The lone run of the game was scored in the top of the fourth with one out as Ramirez deposited a 2-2 offering from Norris deep over the wall in left field for her first home run of the season. Ritchie would take care of the rest, retiring 13-straight Bulldog hitters to finish the game.
Bits and Pieces: East Carolina dropped to 0-5 all-time against Notre Dame but won its first-ever meeting with Bryant … The game against the Bulldogs was streamed live on ESPN3 … Ritchie's scoreless inning streak dropped her season earned run average to 1.40 - the fifth-best mark in the American Athletic Conference … The Pirates won their second 1-0 contest of the season and have shut out three opponents in 2016 … After winning just 16 games a year ago, ECU is already halfway to matching that mark this campaign … Ritchie needed just 93 pitches to dispatch Bryant and threw 64 of them for strikes … Williams hurled her first career collegiate complete game in the loss to the Fighting Irish … Following a three-game losing streak, East Carolina has won five of its last eight decisions.
Up Next: The Pirates will face off against North Florida and Yale at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday as they continue play at the Citrus Classic II.
%20(1).png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
