Pirates Bounce Back To Defeat Memphis, 6-3

Saturday, March 21

Memphis, Tenn.

3:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

21-11, 5-3

Memphis

8-21, 1-7

East Carolina

Memphis

March 21, 2026 | Softball

Box Score

Memphis, Tenn. – Trinity Nichols hit a three-run home run in the third inning as East Carolina bounced back to defeat Memphis, 6-3, on Saturday afternoon at Tigers Softball Complex.

Nichols and Gabby Fowler both led ECU (21-11, 5-3 American) with two hits on the day.

After both teams went scoreless through the first two innings, Nichols put the Pirates up 3-0 with her second homer of the season but Memphis scored in the bottom of the third on a double steal to make the score 3-1 heading into the fourth.

The Tigers hit a solo shot to make it 3-2 but ECU answered in the top of the fifth on Fowler's RBI single that gave the Pirates a little breathing room at 4-2. Memphis would not go away as the Tigers hit an RBI single of their own to make it a one-run game again, putting the pressure on the Pirates to enter the sixth inning.

ECU loaded the bases after drawing a pair of walks and reaching on a Memphis error and Kanisha Anderson hit a single to left center to score Chloe Geijer and extend ECU's lead to 5-3. The Pirates tacked on another run after Jenna Krol was hit by a pitch but Memphis made ECU sweat in the bottom of the sixth, placing two runners in scoring position with just one out.

The Pirates' pitching and defense would force two of the next three Memphis batters into out as the Tigers stranded three runners and ECU maintained its 6-3 lead.

Julia Apostolakos (11-4) tied her career-high with six strikeouts and Taylor Apple earned her second save of the season, retiring three straight batters in the seventh inning.

Up Next
East Carolina will look to win its third conference series tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.