East Carolina University
Tulsa
East Carolina Falls To Tulsa In Series Finale
April 03, 2016 | Softball
TULSA, Okla. - Despite taking an early lead, the East Carolina softball team could not make it stand Sunday in a five-inning, 11-3 loss to Tulsa in the teams' American Athletic Conference series finale at the Collins Family Softball Complex.
The Golden Hurricane (26-7, 5-1 AAC) was efficient with its offense, using just eight hits to plate the 11 runs while limiting the Pirates (18-21, 0-6 AAC) to four hits.
Freshman infielder Morgan Halo recorded her first collegiate home run in the top of the fifth inning to lead the ECU offensive efforts. She ended the day with a run scored and two RBI as a result. Julia Hollingsworth tallied two hits, a run scored and three RBI to pace the Tulsa unit.
Freshman RHP Mary Williams (3-8) tossed her third complete game of the season and allowed 11 runs (seven earned) on eight hits with three walks and a strikeout. Emily Watson (9-6) notched the victory for the Golden Hurricane with a four-inning performance during which she gave up just one run on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
How it Happened: For the first time in the series, East Carolina enjoyed a lead when junior first baseman Ali Ramirez crushed a 2-2 pitch over the left center field fence and the street running behind it to put the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the top of the second. ¬¬Jodi Edmiston erased that advantage in the home half when, with no outs and the bases loaded, she laced a double to right center that cleared the bases and put the Golden Hurricane on top 3-1. Tulsa added another run on a sacrifice fly to enjoy a 4-1 cushion after two complete. The home side put the game away in the bottom of the fourth, plating five runs (four of them unearned) on three hits and a ECU error to pull ahead 9-1. Hollingsworth provided the big blow via a three-run double with two outs on the board. Halo cut the Tulsa lead to six at 9-3 in the top of the fifth with a two-run shot off of reliever Caitlin Sill, but the Golden Hurricane answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame to end the contest.
Bits and Pieces: East Carolina fell to 11-21 against Tulsa overall and 3-13 against the Golden Hurricane at the Collins Family Softball Complex … ECU dropped to 1-8 on the road while Tulsa improved to 8-0 at home … The Pirates lost for just the fourth time this year when scoring first (14-4) … East Carolina dipped to 1-18 in 2016 when its opponent tallies more hits in a contest … ECU's two home runs increased its season total to 24 - just four shy of matching last year's mark.
Up Next: The Pirates resume their non-conference exploits when they visit in-state foe Campbell Tuesday for a single contest. First pitch in Buies Creek at the Amanda Littlejohn Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
