Softball Falls Twice On Day Two Of Pirate Invitational

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The ECU softball team had the lead in both of its games Saturday on day two of the Pirate Invitational, but fell to Ball State 7-2 and Canisius 4-3 in eight innings at the ECU Softball Stadium.

Team Records after Day One Of Pirate Invitational:

ECU (6-8)

Ball State (8-3)

Canisius (3-10)

Saint Francis (8-6)

How It Happened (Game One): The Pirates struck the scoreboard first when freshman outfielder Tyler King crossed home plate on a RBI double by redshirt sophomore infielder Tate McClellan. ECU loaded the bases looking for more, but a groundout terminated the inning. The Cardinals took control in the top of the fourth, plating seven runs on seven hits to assume a 7-1 advantage. The Purple and Gold tallied the final run of the contest when King scored on a passed ball.

Pitchers of Record (Game One):

WP – Carolyn Wilmes (5-1)

LP – Erin Poepping (3-2)

ECU Top Performers (Game One)

Tyler King: 3-for-4, 2 Runs

Tate McClellan: 1-for-2, RBI

Ball State Top Performers

Madison Lee: 3-for-3, Run, 3 RBI

Carolyn Wilmes: 6.0 IP, 4 Hits, 2 Runs, 5 BB, 2 K

How it Happened (Game Two): A RBI single by Lauren Castro put Canisius in front briefly 1-0 in the top of the first before a McClellan RBI single knotted the score at one in the bottom of the frame. ECU manufactured two runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead thanks to a pair of hit by pitches and a couple of walks. The Pirates held the lead all the way to the top of the seventh when the Golden Griffins plated two runs on two hits and an ECU error to tie the score at three. Kara Paradowski provided the winning run in the top of the eighth with a RBI single and the Pirates went down in order in their half.

Pitchers of Record (Game Two)

WP: Emily Nicosia (2-3)

LP: Erin Poepping (3-3)

ECU Top Performers (Game Two)

Tate McClellan: 3-for-4, Run, RBI

Tyler King: 2-for-5, Run

Canisius Top Performers

Kara Paradowski: 3-for-5, 2 Runs, RBI

Lauren Castro: 1-for-4, RBI

Things To Note

ECU fell to 1-6 against Ball State and 5-5 versus Canisius in the all-time series

King has recorded nine hits in 16 at bats this weekend for a .563 batting average.

The Pirates left 17 runners on base in Saturday’s two games.

Up Next: ECU closes out play in the Pirate Invitational Sunday at 11:30 a.m. against Saint Francis. Ball State and Canisius will get the day started at 9 a.m.