ECU Blanks Sacred Heart 3-0 To Open George Mason Invitational

Friday, March 15

Fairfax, Va.

1:30 p.m.

East Carolina University

15-10

Sacred Heart

8-8

ECU

Sacred Heart

ECU Blanks Sacred Heart 3-0 To Open George Mason Invitational

March 15, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

FAIRFAX, Va. – Backed by a complete-game shutout in the circle by Whitney Sanford, the ECU softball team opened the George Mason Invitational with a 3-0 victory over Northeast Conference preseason favorite Sacred Heart on a windy Friday afternoon at the George Mason Softball Complex.

Sanford (5-4) needed just 99 pitches in the complete-game effort, scattering seven hits and striking out four batters while issuing one walk. The solo shutout marked the second of her career and the first since a 3-0 ECU win over Saint Jospeh's on Feb. 16, 2018. Kristen McCann (3-5) limited the Pirate offense to just two hits, but allowed three runs (none earned) with four walks and six strikeouts as her defense committed six errors behind her.

Faith Jarvis and Ashleigh Inae recorded a hit each to lead the ECU (15-10) offensive charge while Alyssa Gonzalez posted a pair of base knocks for the Pioneers (8-8).

After a scoreless first inning, the Pirates jumped ahead with three unearned runs in the top of the second. Rachel McCollum reached on an error to begin the frame and Logan Wood drew a walk. Sydney Griggs replaced McCollum on the base path and was able to scoot home from second thanks to another Sacred Heart error. Jarvis kept things going with a single up the middle and Kendra Ziemba walked to load up the bags. Pinch hitter Morgan Halo then reached on a fielder's choice and yet another Pioneer defensive miscue plated Jarvis from second to give ECU a 2-0 advantage. The Pirates manufactured their final run of the inning on a double steal as Narron swiped second and Ziemba stole home on the throw attempt to second.

ECU put together a chance to extend its lead in the top of the third when Inae led off with a single and Wood and Weingartz drew consecutive two-out walks to load the bases. A looking strikeout stranded all three runners, however. In the home half of the third, Sacred Heart threatened when Steph Mangiameli and Katelyn Christian singled to start the half inning. Sanford proved equal to the task, inducing a trio of fly balls to escape unscathed.

The teams did not put together much in terms of offense in the final three innings. Sanford allowed just two more base runners and worked around leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the shutout.

The Pirates return to the field Saturday with a pair of games against Cornell (3:45 p.m.) and the host Patriots (6 p.m.). The contest versus George Mason will be streamed live through the ESPN+ platform.