By Staff
From ECU Sports Information
GREENVILLE -- East Carolina University dropped two games to Charlotte Saturday in Conference USA softball action at the ECU Softball Field.
In game one, the Pirates (14-10, 0-5 C-USA) fell 5-4 in extra innings. Charlotte (11-9, 2-0 C-USA) got on the board first, scoring three runs in the third. East Carolina answered the call, scoring its first three runs in the same inning.
The 49ers would go on to score in the fourth for the go-ahead points. With runners on first and third, Shannon Carson grounded out to the second baseman on a sacrifice, sending in the fourth Charlotte run.
East Carolina's fourth run came in the sixth inning. With a runner on second, Christine Sheridan doubled to center field to bring in the runner and tie things at four. Neither team scored in the seventh, which sent the game into extra innings. It wasn't until the ninth that Charlotte scored its game-winning fifth run. With the bases loaded and two outs, Brittany Boyd walked in the winning Charlotte run.
Boyd was credited with the loss for East Carolina, her second of the season, dropping her to 4-2 on the year. Amy Morse earned the win for Charlotte, improving to 4-4.
Sheridan ended the game with three hits, as did Kate Manuse. Four other players had one hit each for the Pirates.
In game two, Charlotte again scored the first run. Kristy Constatino scored on a groundout by Autumn Lawson. It wouldn't be until the fourth that East Carolina earned its first run of the game.
The Pirates scored on an error by the Charlotte second baseman, sending Krista Jessup across the plate and landing Lara Brickhouse safely at first base.
Neither team would score again until the sixth when with a runner on base, Lawson doubled to give Charlotte the game-winning run. East Carolina would not be able to score in either the sixth or seventh and would leave a total of nine runners on base.
Maggie Lingo had the loss for the Pirates, her fifth of the season, dropping her to 3-5, while Betsy Thompson earned the win for Charlotte improving to 2-1.
Lacassa Hill and Sheridan each had two hits for the Pirates, while Manuse and Jessup each had one.
The Pirates will host Charlotte again this afternoon for the third and final game of the Conference USA series. The game is slated for a noon start at the ECU Softball Field.