Memphis Claims AAC Doubleheader Softball Sweep Over ECU

GREENVILLE, N.C. – ECU dropped both ends of an American Athletic Conference softball doubleheader to Memphis Friday evening at the ECU Softball Stadium. The Tigers prevailed over the Pirates 2-1 in eight innings in the first contest before taking the second game 10-1.

Team Records

ECU – 15-24 (1-7 AAC)

Memphis – 29-10 (5-3 AAC)

How it Happened (Game One): Starting pitchers Molly Smith and Whitney Sanford put up zero after zero on the scoreboard for much of the opening game. In fact, Sanford carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before an infield single accounted for the Tigers' first base knock.

Memphis got runners to second and third with one out in the top of the eighth inning. A foul out on the first base side of the infield was out number two, but the Tigers took advantage of a wild pitch to score a pair of runs and assume a 2-0 lead. Redshirt senior Alex Mycek singled through the left side to lead off the home half and junior Ashley Weingartz was hit by a pitch to put the Pirates in business. A one-out single by sophomore Kendra Ziemba loaded the bases with one out and a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore Logan Wood cut the Memphis lead to 2-1. King then singled to left field but the throw home nailed Weingartz to end the contest in favor of the visitors.

Pitchers of Record

WP – Molly Smith (17-4)

LP – Whitney Sanford (5-10)

Top ECU Performers

Alex Mycek: 2-for-4

Ashleigh Inae: 1-for-4

Whitney Sanford: 8.0 IP, 2 Runs (both unearned), 4 Hits, 2 Walks, 4 Strikeouts

Top Memphis Performers

Kendall Lee: 2-for-4

Delaney Smith: 1-for-4, Run

Molly Smith: 7.0 IP, 1 Run, 5 Hits, 3 Walks, 7 Strikeouts

How it Happened (Game Two): Memphis scored all it would need in the top of the first, plating four runs on five hits. Kendall Lee provided the big blow with a bases-loaded triple. The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth before a Logan Wood RBI single cut the cushion to 6-1. A Tyler Johnson three-run home run in the top of the seventh provided the final margin.

Pitchers of Record

WP – Mariah Nichols (11-5)

LP – Erin Poepping (8-10)

Top ECU Performers (Game Two)

Ashley Weingartz: 1-for-3

Logan Wood: 1-for-1, RBI

Alex Mycek: 2 Walks

Top Memphis Performers

Kyler Trosclair: 2-for-4, 2 Runs

Kendal Lee: 1-for-3, Run, 3 RBI, Triple

Tyler Johnson: 1-for-3, Run, 3 RBI, HR

Mariah Nichols: 7.0 IP, 1 Run, 2 Hits, 2 Walks, 3 Strikeouts

Things To Note

The Pirates fell to 22-13 all-time against Memphis and the Tigers have won seven of the 11 meetings since 2015 when ECU joined the American Conference.

Sanford tossed her second complete game of the season and just the sixth by a Pirate pitcher this season.

ECU dropped to 7-10 at home in 2018.

Up Next: The Pirates and Tigers will play the series finale Sunday at Noon.