University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
East Carolina (DH) *
Softball Falls To East Carolina In Two Heartbreakers
4/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 29, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. -
East Carolina-Southern Miss Game One Box Score
East Carolina-Southern Miss Game Two Box Score
The Southern Miss softball team dropped a pair of heartbreakers today, falling 4-3 in the seventh inning in game one and 3-2 in extra innings in the ninth.
With the losses, Southern Miss falls to 26-32, 10-10 in Conference USA. East Carolina improves to 35-22, 9-11.
East Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the first, as Vanessa Moreno homered to center on the first pitch of the game.
Southern Miss tied the game in the third, as Ashley Davis singled up the middle, scoring Charity Butler, who singled to start the inning, but Ashley Brenan was thrown out at home on the play to end the frame.
The Lady Eagles took a 3-1 lead in the fifth, getting two-out RBI singles from Jennifer Fox and Allison Bullard.
But East Carolina made cut the lead to 3-2 on a RBI double by Paige Baggett, scoring Krista Jessup, who singled to start the frame.
The Lady Pirates then won the game in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter Laurel Carlson walked to start the inning. Moreno singled, advancing Ashley Quick, who re-entered the game for Carlson, to second. Erin St. Ledger then sacrificed Quick and Moreno to third and second respectively, before Jessica Johnson scored both with a bloop RBI single into center field.
Brently Bridgeforth (4-5) got the win, working the final 2.1 innings and did not allow a hit, walking one and striking out two.
Lacey Gros (14-15) took the loss, allowing six hits, four runs, walking five and struck out six.
Butler finished with three hits to lead Southern Miss in game one.
In game two, Southern Miss took a 1-0 lead in the second on a solo home run by Kristin Pilgrim, her first of the season and career.
Southern Miss made the score 2-0 in the fourth. With two outs, Ashley Davis reached on a fielding error by Pirate third baseman Quick, advancing to second on a walk by Bullard. Pilgrim followed with a RBI single up the middle, which made the score 2-0.
But East Carolina tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Baggett homered to center to start the inning, before a bases loaded RBI single by St. Ledger through the left side tied the game.
The game went into extra frames and the Lady Pirates won the game in the ninth. With one out, Johnson reached on a fielder's choice, forcing Jessup out at second. Baggett followed with an infield single, before a RBI single by Beth Nolan scored Johnson to win the game.
Keli Harrell (21-14) got the win for East Carolina, allowing four hits, two runs, one earned, walking one and striking out 10.
Samantha Davis (3-4) took the loss for Southern Miss, allowing four hits and one run, striking out two.
Pilgrim finished with two hits and two RBIs in game two to lead Southern Miss.
The series finale is set for 11 a.m., central time on Sunday.
