East Carolina University
Memphis
Memphis Outlasts East Carolina In Series Rubber Game
April 10, 2016 | Softball
Box Score | Memphis 4, East Carolina 2 
GREENVILLE, N.C. - A pair of unearned runs proved the difference Sunday as Memphis recorded a 4-2 victory over East Carolina in the teams' American Athletic Conference series finale at the ECU Softball Stadium.
The Tigers (20-20, 4-2 AAC) managed just four hits off of the ECU (19-24, 1-8 AAC) pitching staff but took advantage of two Pirate miscues.
Junior outfielder Ciara Ervin led all players with three hits to go along with a run scored and a RBI, including her team-leading seventh home run of the season. Senior catcher Kelsi went 2-for-4 as the other East Carolina player to tally multiple hits. Tyler Johnson paced Memphis with a hit and two runs driven in.
Freshman RHP Mary Williams (4-11) took the loss after surrendering two runs (both unearned) with four walks and three strikeouts. Molly Smith (8-9) tossed her second complete game of the weekend, giving up two runs. She struck out seven against no walks.
How it Happened: East Carolina put the only runner into scoring position through the first two innings when Briggs singled with one out in the top of the second and moved to second base on an infield single by sophomore third baseman Karlie Smith. A pop up would strand Briggs at second. In the top of the third, Memphis plated a pair of runs on four hits to pull ahead 2-0. The Tigers then extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs on no hits and two ECU errors. The Pirates pulled within three runs in the bottom of the sixth when Alcorn connected on an 0-2 pitch and sent it sailing over the wall in center field. It marked her fourth home run of the season. East Carolina made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh when, with two outs, Ervin drilled the first pitch she saw out to right field and over the wall to make the score 4-2. Briggs then hit an infield single to bring up Alcorn who battled through a number of pitches before fouling out to left field for the final out of the contest.
Bits and Pieces: East Carolina fell to 21-9 overall against Memphis and 10-5 versus the Tigers in home contests … The Pirates dropped to 5-9 at home while Memphis improved to 5-4 in true road games … ECU upped its season home run total to 29 - one more than last season's mark … The teams combined to leave 13 runners on base … Each squad posted one two-out RBI … The Pirates did not allow a Tigers leadoff batter to reach base … East Carolina was 1-for-11 in advancement opportunities.
Up Next: Weather permitting, the Pirates will make the short trip over to Chapel Hill Tuesday for a non-conference contest against the North Carolina Tar Heels. First pitch for that game is slated for 6 p.m. at Anderson Stadium.
