ECU Closes Out Spring Break Trip At Under Armour Showcase
March 10, 2016 | Softball
| Games 24-28: Under Armour Showcase | |
| Dates | March 11-13, 2016 |
| Location | Clearwater, Fla. | Eddie C. Moore Complex |
| Schedule | March 11: 2:15 p.m. - vs. Northern Kentucky • Gametracker March 11: 4:30 p.m. - vs. Bowling Green • Gametracker March 12: 2:00 p.m. - vs. New Mexico State • Gametracker March 12: 4:15 p.m. - vs. Southern Illinois • Gametracker March 13: 11:15 a.m. - vs. IPFW • Gametracker |
| Tournament Info | Under Armour Showcase Tournament Central |
ECU Softball Social Media Links: Twitter | Instagram | ECU Scoreboard
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The East Carolina softball team returns to Clearwater, Fla., this weekend, wrapping up its 10-day road trip at the Under Armour Showcase. ECU will take on Northern Kentucky, Bowling Green, New Mexico State, Southern Illinois and IPFW during the three-day event at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
Live stats via Gametracker will be available for all five contests.
The Pirates enter the weekend with a 13-10 overall record and have lost three-straight games to Central Michigan, Illinois and FIU. Despite the small skid, East Carolina is just three wins away from matching last year's total. At this point in 2015, ECU was 7-16 and in the midst of a six-game losing streak.
Collectively, the Pirates are batting .264 with a .410 slugging percentage and .369 on base mark. Over a third of East Carolina's 154 hits (52) have gone for extra bases, including 15 home runs. The ECU pitching staff owns a 3.26 earned run average and has struck out 141 hitters over 152.1 innings of work.
Senior outfielder Meredith Mitchell and junior outfielder Ciara Ervin share the team high in batting average at .317 while senior shortstop Casey Alcorn has racked up a team-high 23 hits, 12 runs scored, five doubles and two triples. The Pirates have five players with multiple home runs led by sophomore third baseman Karlie Smith and junior catcher Alex Mycek at three long balls apiece.
In the circle, junior RHP Lydia Ritchie boasts a team-best 7-3 record, 1.69 ERA and 65 strikeouts. She is limiting opposing hitters to a .201 batting average. Ritchie is also ranked second nationally with four complete-game shutouts.
About Northern Kentucky
The Norse owns a 5-12 overall record after falling to Penn 10-1 and Butler 7-0 Wednesday in Clearwater. Alina Maher leads the offense with a .333 batting average while the pitching staff is paced by Charlie Nolen's 3.98 ERA. East Carolina and Northern Kentucky have never faced off on the softball diamond.
About Bowling Green
The Falcons have won three straight entering the weekend and are 8-8 overall. Chelsea Raker leads the team with a .415 batting average and has nine walks and a .538 on-base percentage to pace the Falcons in both of those categories as well. Briana Combs sports a team-low 2.95 ERA. ECU leads the all-time series over BGSU 6-3 and won the last meeting by a 4-0 scoreline March 20, 2005 in Charlottesville, Va.
About New Mexico State
The Aggies are 17-8 this season after an 11-3 victory over New Mexico Tuesday night. Victoria Castro is batting a team-best .500 while Karysta Donisthorpe boasts a squad-low 2.91 ERA. NMSU is hitting .380 as a team. East Carolina and New Mexico State have played just two times with each side winning one of the meetings.
About Southern Illinois
The Salukis bring a 9-7 overall record to Clearwater and have split their last four games. Shaye Harre paces the SIU offense with a .386 batting average while Brianna Jones owns a 1.85 ERA and a nation-leading five complete-game shutouts. Southern Illinois and ECU have never squared off on the softball diamond.
About IPFW
The Mastadons check in with a 3-16 overall record following a 7-4 loss to Maine Monday in Clearwater. Sierra Miranda is hitting a team-high .345 while Sarah Lazarowich has compiled a squad-best 3.85 ERA. IPFW and East Carolina have never met on the softball diamond.
In Neutral Site Games
ECU is 9-5 in neutral site games this season and is hitting .285 with six players at .300 or better. Ritchie has won five of six decisions to go along with a 0.99 ERA, 50 strikeouts, three complete-game shutouts and a .178 batting average against.
Up Next
The Pirates continue non-conference action Wednesday, March 16, with a doubleheader at Radford. Game one will get underway at 3 p.m. from the Radford Softball Stadium.
