Saint Francis Rallies Past ECU 7-2

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Saint Francis scored seven unanswered runs in the final three innings to erase an early deficit and defeat ECU 7-2 Sunday afternoon at the ECU Softball Stadium. The contest was the finale of the Pirate Invitational.

Team Records after Final Day Of Pirate Invitational:

ECU (6-9)

Ball State (9-3)

Canisius (3-11)

Saint Francis (9-6)

How It Happened (Game One): The first three innings went by with little offense from both sides, but the Pirates put up their first real threat in the bottom of the fourth. Senior infielders Karlie Smith and Meredith Burroughs hit consecutive singles to lead off the frame before junior outfielder Ashley Weingartz laid down a great bunt that was enough to allow Smith to reach third safely and load the bases with no outs. After a pop up on the infield, sophomore infielder Kendra Ziemba pounded a pitch over the left fielder’s head to score two and give ECU a 2-0 advantage.

The Red Flash answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to knot the score then plated five runs on four hits to seize control. Madison Cabell capped the scoring off with a two-run home run to center.

Pitchers of Record:

WP – Abby Trahan (6-4)

LP – Ashley Cruise (0-1)

ECU Top Performers

Kendra Ziemba: 2-for-3, 2 RBI

Meredith Burroughs: 1-for-3, Run, 11 Putouts

Erin Poepping: 6.0 IP, 9 Hits, 2 Runs, BB, 3 K

Saint Francis Top Performers

Sierra McKee: 3-for-4, Run, 2 RBI

Cheyenne McKee: 2-for-3, Run, 2 RBI

Abby Trahan: 7.0 IP, 6 Hits, 2 Runs, 4 K

Things To Note

ECU fell to 2-7 against Saint Francis in the all-time series.

Freshman outfielder Tyler King extended her current hitting streak to five games with a single in the seventh inning.

Ziemba has reached base in seven-straight contests.

The teams were a combined 4-for-6 with a runner on third and less than two outs.

Up Next: ECU embarks on a 10-game road swing to Hawai’i next weekend for a pair of non-conference tournaments. The Pirates will open the trip with a doubleheader against Longwood and host Hawai’i Friday, March 2 at 9 and 11:30 p.m. respectively.