Friday, February 6
Atlanta, Ga.
11:00 a.m.
East Carolina University
1-0
1
vs
0
Villanova
0-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
East Carolina
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
5
0
Villanova
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Pirates Split First Day At Buzz Classic
February 06, 2026 | Softball
Atlanta, Ga. – The East Carolina softball team split its first day to open the 2026 season, defeating Villanova 1-0 before falling to No. 16 Alabama, 9-1, in five innings at the Buzz Classic at Shirley Clements Mewborn Field.
Game One: East Carolina 1, Villanova 0
Sarah Stone and Gabby Fowler each hit a double and Stone scored the game's lone run in the top of the fourth as East Carolina outlasted Villanova 1-0 at the Buzz Classic.
The Pirates finally brought a run across after Stone's double led to her crossing home after Hailey Deter reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the fourth. ECU had a chance to extend its lead, placing runners in scoring position with one out but the Pirates were unable to add to their 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.
Villanova had a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the sixth after the Wildcats' first two batters drew a walk and hit a single, but Julia Apostolakos struck out Villanova's next batter before the Pirates' defense turned a double play to end the inning.
After ECU left one runner on in the top of the seventh, Apostolakos quickly retired Villanova's three batters in the bottom of the seventh to get the Pirates their first win of the 2026 season.
Apostolakos (1-0) picked up the win in the circle for ECU, tossing five strikeouts.
Game Two: #16 Alabama 9, East Carolina 1
Kanisha Anderson scored a run while Anna Sawyer and Lillian Martineau both got hits but East Carolina fell to No. 16 Alabama, 9-1, in five innings at the Buzz Classic.
East Carolina got off to a good start as Anderson and Sawyer both got on base and Anderson eventually scored off a Sarah Stone groundout to put the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the first inning.
Alabama quickly regained the momentum, taking a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first on Alexis Pupillo's three RBI double. The Crimson Tide poured it on, hitting two three-run bombs to extend their lead to 9-1 in the bottom of the third to pick up the run-rule win.
Taylor Apple (0-1) took the loss in the circle for the Pirates.
Up Next
East Carolina faces Villanova tomorrow at 11 a.m.
Game One: East Carolina 1, Villanova 0
Sarah Stone and Gabby Fowler each hit a double and Stone scored the game's lone run in the top of the fourth as East Carolina outlasted Villanova 1-0 at the Buzz Classic.
The Pirates finally brought a run across after Stone's double led to her crossing home after Hailey Deter reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the fourth. ECU had a chance to extend its lead, placing runners in scoring position with one out but the Pirates were unable to add to their 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.
Villanova had a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the sixth after the Wildcats' first two batters drew a walk and hit a single, but Julia Apostolakos struck out Villanova's next batter before the Pirates' defense turned a double play to end the inning.
After ECU left one runner on in the top of the seventh, Apostolakos quickly retired Villanova's three batters in the bottom of the seventh to get the Pirates their first win of the 2026 season.
Apostolakos (1-0) picked up the win in the circle for ECU, tossing five strikeouts.
Game Two: #16 Alabama 9, East Carolina 1
Kanisha Anderson scored a run while Anna Sawyer and Lillian Martineau both got hits but East Carolina fell to No. 16 Alabama, 9-1, in five innings at the Buzz Classic.
East Carolina got off to a good start as Anderson and Sawyer both got on base and Anderson eventually scored off a Sarah Stone groundout to put the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the first inning.
Alabama quickly regained the momentum, taking a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first on Alexis Pupillo's three RBI double. The Crimson Tide poured it on, hitting two three-run bombs to extend their lead to 9-1 in the bottom of the third to pick up the run-rule win.
Taylor Apple (0-1) took the loss in the circle for the Pirates.
Up Next
East Carolina faces Villanova tomorrow at 11 a.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Apostolakos, Julia (1-0)
L: Gallant, Kat (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Stone, Sarah 1 ; Fowler, Gabby 1
SH: Scott, Mary-Kathryn 1 ; Nichols, Trinity 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stone, Sarah 1
Batting:
2B: Burrows, Maddie 1
Base Running:
HBP: Burrows, Maddie 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP/UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC
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