Friday, May 8
Greenville, N.C.
4:00 p.m.
East Carolina University
34-24
3
vs
2
Wichita State
35-17
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Wichita State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
Pirates Advance To Championship Game With 3-2 Win Over Wichita State
May 08, 2026 | Softball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Hailey Deter's sixth-inning two-run home run lifted East Carolina past No. 2 Wichita State 3-2 in the semifinals of the American Conference Softball Championship on Friday evening at Max R. Joyner Family Softball Stadium.
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The Pirates (34-24) advance to the American Softball Championship game for the first time in since joining the league, where they will face No. 1 South Florida on Saturday at noon ET on ESPN2.
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East Carolina struck first in the third inning after Kanisha Anderson and Anna Sawyer reached base, Gabby Fowler delivered an RBI single through the left side to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
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Wichita State answered in the bottom half of the inning as Ausha Moore connected on a solo home run to left field to even the score.
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The Shockers took the lead in the fourth inning when Mackenzie Rooney launched a solo home run off the batter's eye in center field.
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East Carolina responded in the sixth. A lead off double put the tying run in scoring position, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third, Deter blasted a two-run home run over the left-field wall to give the Pirates a 3-2 advantage.
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Wichita State threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but Julia Apostolakos recorded a strikeout to end the game and send the Pirates to the championship.
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Sydney Rainford started in the circle for East Carolina, allowing one run over 4.0 innings. Julia Apostolakos (18-11) earned the win in relief, striking out eight batters while allowing one run over the final three innings.
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Ryley Nihart (16-11) took the loss for Wichita State after allowing two earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched. Jade Sanders recorded the final two outs in relief.
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The Pirates (34-24) advance to the American Softball Championship game for the first time in since joining the league, where they will face No. 1 South Florida on Saturday at noon ET on ESPN2.
Â
East Carolina struck first in the third inning after Kanisha Anderson and Anna Sawyer reached base, Gabby Fowler delivered an RBI single through the left side to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
Â
Wichita State answered in the bottom half of the inning as Ausha Moore connected on a solo home run to left field to even the score.
Â
The Shockers took the lead in the fourth inning when Mackenzie Rooney launched a solo home run off the batter's eye in center field.
Â
East Carolina responded in the sixth. A lead off double put the tying run in scoring position, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third, Deter blasted a two-run home run over the left-field wall to give the Pirates a 3-2 advantage.
Â
Wichita State threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but Julia Apostolakos recorded a strikeout to end the game and send the Pirates to the championship.
Â
Sydney Rainford started in the circle for East Carolina, allowing one run over 4.0 innings. Julia Apostolakos (18-11) earned the win in relief, striking out eight batters while allowing one run over the final three innings.
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Ryley Nihart (16-11) took the loss for Wichita State after allowing two earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched. Jade Sanders recorded the final two outs in relief.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Apostolakos, Julia (18-11)
L: Nihart, Ryley (16-11)
Batting:
2B: Geijer, Chloe 1 ; Fowler, Gabby 1
HR: Deter, Hailey 1
RBI: Fowler, Gabby 1 ; Deter, Hailey 2
SH: Nichols, Trinity 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Anderson, Kanisha 1 ; Deter, Hailey 1 ; Morgan, Alexis 1
SB: Anderson, Kanisha 1
Batting:
2B: Rhine, Chloe 1
HR: Moore, Ausha 1 ; Rooney, Mackenzie 1
RBI: Moore, Ausha 1 ; Rooney, Mackenzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Moore, Ausha 1 ; Rooney, Mackenzie 1
SB: Epperson, Jodie 1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball05/05/26 Inside Pirate Athletics
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