ECU Softball overpowers Ohio 9-2 in JMU Invitational opener

HARRISONBURG, Va. – ECU pounded out 10 hits Friday morning en route to a 9-2 victory over Ohio in the first game of the JMU Invitational at Veterans Memorial Park.

Team Records

ECU: 11-16

OHIO: 9-11

How It Happened: Katie Yun opened the scoring with a RBI single for the Bobcats in the top of the first, but the lead was short lived as freshman infielder Ashleigh Inae singled and advanced to second on a fielding error before senior infielder Meredith Burroughs crushed a 3-2 pitch over the wall in dead center to put the Pirates ahead 2-1 after one complete. Ohio tied the game up with an unearned run in the top of the third off of a sacrifice fly. Again, ECU responded right away in its half of the frame when redshirt sophomore infielder Tate McClellan was hit by a pitch and senior infielder Karlie Smith hit her second home run of the campaign to leave the Pirates with a 4-2 lead moving into the fourth inning.

It was all ECU from that point. In the bottom of the fourth, the Pirates tacked on three more runs off three hits – including a RBI double by Inae – to pull ahead 7-2. Junior outfielder Ashley Weingartz completed the scoring by ripping a two-run double off of the wall in right center in the bottom of the sixth.

Pitchers of Record

WP – Ashley Cruise (1-1)

LP – Danielle Steine (6-5)

ECU Top Performers

Meredith Burroughs: 2-for-4, Run, 3 RBI, HR

Ashleigh Inae: 2-for-4, 2 Runs, RBI

Karlie Smith: 2-for-4, Run, 2 RBI, HR

Ashley Cruise: 3.2 IP, 1 Hit, 0 Runs, 0 Walks, 4 Strikeouts

Ohio Top Performers

Katie Yun: 1-for-2, RBI

Alex Day: 1-for-4, Run

Things to Note

The Pirates improved to 19-9-2 against Ohio in 30 meetings with the Bobcats.

ECU rapped out a season second-best nine runs and recorded double-digit hits for the third time this campaign.

The Pirates hit multiple home runs in a contest for the sixth time this season.

McClellan extended her current hitting streak to six games with a single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

ECU was 5-for-12 (.417) with runners in scoring position and recorded four two-out RBI.

Up Next: Weather pending, the Pirates will face Stony Brook and Ohio Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to continue play at the JMU Invitational.