Pirates Fend Off Tulsa To Clinch Series, 5-4

Sunday, April 26

Tulsa, Okla.

1:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

29-23, 13-11

Tulsa

18-29, 9-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
East Carolina	0	3	0	0	2	0	0	5	8	0
Tulsa	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	4	6	0

April 26, 2026 | Softball

Box Score

Tulsa, Okla. – Anna Sawyer went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI as East Carolina held off a late-inning rally from Tulsa for the series-clinching 5-4 win on Sunday afternoon at Collins Family Softball Complex.

Kanisha Anderson had her best offensive game of the series with two hits and two runs for the Pirates (29-23, 13-11 American) who won their first-ever series at Tulsa and bested the Golden Hurricane in a three-game series for the first time since 2011. Gabby Fowler also added two hits and Trinity Nichols hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth.

The Pirates quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead after an RBI single from Jenna Krol followed by Sawyer's two run single. Nichols extended ECU's lead to 5-0 as the Pirates looked to be in control of the series finale.

Tulsa would not go quietly on its senior day, plating a run in the bottom of the fifth and Faith Russell hit a three-run blast over the right field wall to cut ECU's lead to one run in the bottom of the sixth.

Sawyer hit another single in the top of the seventh and Fowler followed up with a double but Sawyer was thrown out at home to keep the score at 5-4.

After a leadoff single, Taylor Apple forced the next three batters into out including making a tremendous effort to record a double play on a sac bunt attempt to end the game.

Julia Apostolakos (15-11) tossed a career-high eight strikeouts for the win while Apple earned her third save of the year.

Up Next
East Carolina travels to NC State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra for its final midweek game of the year.