Pirates Drop Series Opener At Houston, 4-1

Friday, May 3

Houston, Texas

7:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

21-30, 3-16

Houston

36-16, 11-7

East Carolina

Houston

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

May 03, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

HOUSTON, Texas – Houston rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fourth Friday evening to erase a one-run deficit and record a 4-1 victory over East Carolina in the opener of an American Athletic Conference series at Cougar Softball Stadium.

The Pirates drop to 21-30 overall and 3-16 in league play while the Cougars improve to 36-16 and 11-7.

Ashleigh Inae paced the visiting ECU side with a hit and a RBI while Sarah Barker and Maya Thomas each recorded three hits for the home club. Barker also drove in a run.

Erin Poepping (14-19) was the losing pitcher, surrendering three runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Presley Bell (12-3) grabbed the win in a complete-game effort after giving up just one unearned run on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

After a double play ended the top of the first, Houston threatened to score in the home half of the inning. Sarah Barker led off the frame with a double and moved to third on a fly out to right but, with two outs, Poepping fanned Kelli Montgomery swinging to escape the jam.

The Pirates put together a chance in the top of the second. Morgan Halo singled through the right side before Ashley Weingartz drew a one-out walk. However, the Cougars turned their second double play of the game to keep ECU off of the board.

In the top of the third, an error and an Olivia Narron base hit put East Carolina in position to jump ahead on the scoreboard. A groundout moved the runners up a base and Inae pushed the game's first run across with a sacrifice fly before the half inning came to a close.

Houston responded in the bottom of the fourth, plating three runs on a trio of RBI singles that chased Poepping and put the Cougars on top 3-1. Arielle James extended the Houston lead to three with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth and the Pirates did not threaten again.

The teams continue the series Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET