East Carolina softball splits day one of Pirate Clash

GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina began the Pirate Clash and opened its 2017 home schedule Friday evening by defeating Bryant 9-5 before falling to Saint Francis in a 1-0 pitchers’ duel at the ECU Softball Stadium.

Fordham opened the day with a six-inning 8-0 victory over Bryant before Saint Francis downed Fordham 5-3 in nine innings in game two.

The Rundown: Game One

The Pirates notched four runs in the bottom of the second inning and pounded out 13 hits on the way to the four-run victory over the Bulldogs.

Senior outfielders Ali Ramirez and Ciara Ervin posted three hits and two RBI apiece while Ramirez added three runs scored to her ledger. Classmate and fellow outfielder Kacie Oshiro recorded two RBI, scored a run and drew a pair of walks to continue her strong start to the campaign. Taylor Burger paced Bryant with three hits while Haylee Haas chipped in with a pair of hits and two runs scored.

Sophomore RHP Mary Williams (1-2) notched her first victory of the campaign as she tossed a strong four innings allowing three runs and scattering six hits while walking two batters and striking out seven. Junior infielder Meredith Burroughs picked up her first save of the season in 1.1 innings of work. She walked one and struck out one. Gabrielle Ermish was tagged with the loss for the Bulldogs, surrendering eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits with six walks and a lone strikeout.

The Decisive Inning

With Bryant sticking around trailing 6-3 in the fifth, ECU put the game away with a two spot in the home half of the frame. Ervin doubled to center field with one out before scoring on consecutive wild pitches. Oshiro then walked and stole second as Burroughs stepped up and sent her across home plate with the Pirates’ second two-bagger of the inning. That pushed the East Carolina lead to an insurmountable five runs.

Statistic of the Game

ECU rapped out four hits with two outs on the board and was 12 of 14 in advancement opportunities. Bryant was just 5-for-18 with runners on base.

The Rundown: Game 2

Jordan Seneca’s solo home run in the top of the first inning backed a no-hitter by Ketarah DeVries in the circle as Saint Francis edged East Carolina in the nightcap.

Ervin drew a walk in the first at bat of the bottom of the first inning, standing as the only blemish on DeVries’ account the entire evening. Sisters Sierra and Cheyenne McKee tallied the only other hits for the Red Flash.

DeVries struck out 10 batters in the no-hit performance to improve her record to 2-1. Senior RHP Lydia Ritchie (1-3) suffered the tough luck loss, allowing just the lone run on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

The Decisive Inning

Sierra McKee led of the game with a walk but was caught stealing on a nice throw by redshirt junior catcher Alex Mycek. Seneca then cleared the inside of the third base foul pole by inches to provide the only run of the contest.

Statistic of the Game

DeVries needed just 99 pitches to complete the win as she threw first-pitch strikes to 15 of the 23 batters she faced. Ritchie was impressive as well, throwing a first-pitch strike to 19 of 26 hitters.

Up Next

East Carolina continues the Pirate Clash Saturday with games against Bryant and Fordham and 2 and 6:30 p.m.