ECU softball earned its first AAC series of 2016

East Carolina claimed its first American Athletic Conference series victory of the season, after winning two of three games against Houston this weekend, taking the rubber match on Senior Day.

“Senior day is an emotional day. These seniors have been the backbone of the program this year. They certainly have left the program better than when they first got here,” ECU head coach Courtney Oliver said.

Senior shortstop Casey Alcorn, utility player Nicole Cheek, outfielder Meredith Mitchell and catcher Kelsi Briggs were recognized Sunday as their collegiate career for the Pirates is coming to a close.

Alcorn, Cheek and Mitchell combined for five hits, two runs scored and an RBI during their senior game.

“Our seniors all did a fantastic job on their senior day. Casey Alcorn delivered with a home run and walk off hit for us to win game two,” Oliver said.

Closing out the weekend in American Athletic Conference play Sunday, the Pirates took a 2-0 victory over the Cougars.

ECU (22-28, 4-11 AAC) has lost four of its last six in AAC action. The Pirates racked up nine hits while limiting Houston (21-26, 4-8 AAC) to just two.

“The biggest difference between games one and two are quality at bats. The team executed a lot more in games two and three than they did in the first game,” Oliver said. “Great pitching in games two and three by Lydia Ritchie and Morgan Halo.

Junior right-hander Lydia Ritchie (12-10) tossed six scoreless innings, scattering just two hits while walking four batters and striking out four.

Saturday, ECU saw a doubleheader where Houston took the game opener, 9-0 in six innings of work. The Pirates fought back for a 7-6 walk-off victory in the second game.

“They started playing better defense and hit a lot more in games two and three. Pitching kept us in the game too,” Oliver said.

A total of four ECU batters recorded a single hit in the first contest. Ritchie took the loss in the circle, surrendering four runs on just two hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Alcorn went 2-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs, while four other Pirate batters recorded multi-hit efforts.

Alcorn and sophomore third baseman Karlie Smith hit their fifth and fourth home runs of the season, respectively to help give ECU a lead in the sixth inning.

Freshman Morgan Halo earned the first victory of her collegiate career in the circle, as she allowed four runs on 10 hits with two walks and a strikeout in 6.2 innings of work.

“It was the first series that we won. We were all happy it was at home on senior weekend,” Oliver said.

The Pirates improved to 17-30 all-time against Houston, including a 12-10 mark in Greenville. ECU won a series against the Cougars for the first time since 2009. The Pirates finished their 2016 home campaign with a 7-11 record.

ECU will wrap up its regular season May 6-8 with a three-game AAC series at UCF.