Sawyer's Walk-Off Rallies Pirates Past North Dakota State, 5-4

Tuesday, February 13

Greenville, N.C.

4:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

7-0

North Dakota State

3-3

North Dakota State

East Carolina

Sawyer's Walk-Off Rallies Pirates Past North Dakota State, 5-4

February 13, 2024 | Softball

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Anna Sawyer hit a walk-off three RBI double in the seventh inning to lift East Carolina past North Dakota State 5-4 in the Pirates' home opener at Max R. Joyner Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Greenville, N.C. native went 2-for-4 at the plate but saved her biggest hit for last with the walk-off winner. ECU (7-0) is off to its best start since 2006 when the team started the season 8-0 and finished 40-24.

Despite coming into Tuesday with torrid hitting numbers, the Pirates found themselves playing from behind after the Bison's Reanna Rudd smashed a solo shot over the left field wall to put NDSU ahead 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning. NDSU would add another run to take a 2-0 lead and hold that advantage heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Pirates would finally get on the scoreboard on a sacrifice fly from Annie Kate Dalton that would score Kanisha Anderson in the bottom of the fifth, but NDSU would push its lead to 4-1 in the top of the seventh on a two RBI single.

ECU would load the bases in the bottom of the seventh and cut the Bison's lead to two runs after Dalton drew a walk.

Facing a 1-2 count with two outs and the bases loaded, Sawyer would loft a ball into right field that would score Hannah Evans, Emma Jackson and Makenzie Mason for the walk-off win.

Jordan Hatch (4-0) earned the win for ECU in the circle.

Up Next
The Pirates take on Fairfield for the first day of the Pirate Clash on Friday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. inside Max R. Joyner Stadium.