March 15, 2008

Box Score

Box Score

GREENVILLE, NC -- The Southern Miss softball team collected 12 hits in the second game of the double-header, but it wasn't enough as East Carolina defeated Southern Miss 11-6.

East Carolina (21-9, 4-1) used a five-run first inning and a three-run fourth and fifth inning to account for 11 runs.

After trailing 5-0, Southern Miss put a run on the board that started out with walk, a hit batter then a single up the middle by Kristin Chaney to scored Logan James from second.

The Lady Eagles (13-14, 1-4) got two more runs in the third when Brandi Alonzo singled to right field and advanced to second on a ground out to the second baseman. Castellvi reached base on a walk then loaded the bases when James was hit by a pitch. Brittney Pigott singled to right field, scoring Alonzo and Castellvi.

Southern Miss was able to tie the game up in the top of fourth when Bullard led off with a single, followed by a single by Chaney. Megan Hill singled to the left side to load the bases with on outs. Alonzo hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Bullard, but Chaney was doubled up on the play trying to take third. Kristin Pilgrim then delivered a two-out double that scored Hill.

ECU answered scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning, when Johnson walked, followed by a single by St. Ledger. Aona then hit a three-run home run over the left centerfield fence. The Pirates added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Southern Miss added a run in the top of the sixth, following an infield hit by Chaney. Alonzo then doubled to left, plating Chaney.

The Lady Eagles threatened one last time in the top of the seventh after Jennifer Fox singled, followed by a double by Castellvi. With runners on second and third, ECU's Cristen Aona made a nice play at third, when she was able to grab a hard-hit ball down the third base line, tag out Jones and threw to first to double up James.

Meghan Harbuck (2-4) suffered the loss for the Lady Eagles, working 3.1 innings, while Swann (12-7) recorded her second win of the day for the Pirates in 3.1 inning of work. Chaney finished the day 3-of-3 from the plate, followed by Alonzo and Pilgrim with two hits each.

Southern Miss returns to action Sunday to complete the three-game series. Following the ECU series, the Lady Eagles return home to host in-state rival and nationally ranked Mississippi State Tuesday at 6 p.m.