Softball loses conference doubleheader

Late rallies fall shot

By: Hart Holloman

Posted: 4/8/08

The ECU softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader this past Sunday against conference foe Marshall.

After the weather rained out their doubleheader Saturday, one game was canceled and the other rescheduled for Sunday.

Game one started out as a pitchers duel with Pirates' starter Brooke Swann keeping a clean score sheet into the fifth inning. But ECU had its own troubles at the plate and failed to produce any run support for Swann. Marshall finally broke the deadlock in the top of the sixth when it put three runs across with two outs. The Pirates failed to answer in the bottom half of the frame, and after the Herd put three more runs on the board in the top of the seventh, ECU went to bat for last time, trailing 6-0.

ECU finally got on the scoreboard in the final inning, but it was not enough.

The Pirates scored three runs before the rally fizzled out and Marshall took the opening game by a 6-3 margin.

Brooke Swann did not pitch badly, going all seven innings and striking out eight with only a pair of walks. Angel Barrella led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, but the Pirates left 13 runners on base and failed to take advantage of their numerous scoring opportunities.

After a half hour lay-off, the two teams took the field again to wrap up the day. Freshman Suzanne Riggs took the mound for the Pirates as they came out hoping to get a win and split the weekend.

Marshall jumped out to early lead and put three across in the top of the first inning on three hits and an error by the Pirates' defense. ECU tried to answer in the bottom half of the frame, junior Jessica Johnson put one run across with a single through the hole to left, but they couldn't quite keep the rally going and they had to settle for a two-run deficit.

After struggling a little through the first, Riggs settled into the game and shut out the potent Marshall lineup for the next three innings.

The Pirates managed to tie the score in the bottom of the third when Johnson again knocked in a run and another scored after a pick off attempt by the catcher down to third went into left field. The next two batters were put out to end the inning, but the Pirates had tied the score at 3.

In the top of the fifth Marshall again took the lead through a two run homer to center off Riggs. ECU failed to answer in its final three trips to the plate and the game ended 5-3 in favor of the Herd.

Johnson led the team at the plate with two hits and two RBI's. Christina Merrida and Christen Aona each had two hits as well. Riggs went five innings and gave up five runs on six hits while striking out two and giving three free passes. Swann entered the game in the sixth and faced the final seven batters, allowing no runs or hits while striking out one and walking one.

The Pirates will be back in action Wednesday at home against UNC Wilmington. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com