ECU bows out of AAC Tournament with 3-1 loss to Houston

TAMPA, Fla. – No. 7 seed ECU had the better of No. 2 seed Houston for much of Thursday afternoon’s quarterfinal contest in the American Athletic Conference Softball Championship, but three unearned runs proved the difference as the Cougars moved on to the semifinals with a 3-1 win over the Pirates at the USF Softball Stadium.

Houston advances to face No. 6 seed Tulsa in Friday’s first semifinal contest after the Golden Hurricane upset No. 3 seed Wichita State 3-1 in Thursday’s tourney opener.

Team Records

ECU: 23-32

Houston: 36-19

How It Happened

Freshman outfielder Tyler King led off the game with an infield single and reached second after an Ashleigh Inae sacrifice bunt, but she would be stranded there. Erin Poepping, who was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team Wednesday, was spectacular to begin her first-ever conference tournament appearance, twirling three perfect innings to set the Pirates up to take the lead in the top of the fourth.

Inae roped a single to right field to kick off the frame before moving to second on a groundout. Redshirt sophomore Tate McClellan then ripped a single down the right field line that plated Inae and put ECU in the lead 1-0. Junior Ashley Weingartz hit a sharp single to left field later in the inning with two down, but a groundout ended the frame.

A two-out error at third base proved costly for the Purple and Gold in the bottom of the fourth as Tierrah Williams took advantage of the extended inning and hit a three-run home run over the left field fence to put the Cougars in the lead at 3-1. All three runs were unearned thanks to the defensive miscue.

The Pirates had a great chance to cut into their deficit in the top of the fifth, but a swinging strikeout stranded two runners in scoring position. ECU could not manage to push another run across despite another two base runners in the top of the sixth and a leadoff single in the top of the seventh.

Pitchers of Record

WP – Savannah Heebner (24-9)

LP – Erin Poepping (13-16)

Top ECU Performers

Tyler King: 2-for-4

Ashley Weingartz: 2-for-3

Tate McClellan: 1-for-3, RBI

Erin Poepping: 6.0 IP, 3 Runs (all unearned), 5 Hits, Walk, 3 Strikeouts

Top Houston Performers

Tierrah Williams: 1-for-3, Run, 3 RBI, HR

Sarah Barker: 1-for-3, 2B

Savannah Heebner: 7.0 IP, 1 Run, 9 Hits, No Walks, 5 Strikeouts