The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
East Carolina
Softball Loses Two Games On The Road At East Carolina
3/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 17, 2004
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The UAB softball team dropped a pair of Conference USA contests versus the East Carolina Pirates on Wednesday as the Blazers fell, 5-2, in the opener and then lost, 2-1, in the finale of the three-game series here at the ECU Softball Field.
With the pair of losses, UAB (13-16, 2-4 C-USA) dropped all three games of its conference series and lost its fourth-consecutive game against East Carolina (26-6-1, 3-3 C-USA). On Sunday, the Blazer fell in dramatic fashion versus the Pirates, 4-3, in the championship game of the 2004 Cougar Classic held in Charleston, S.C.
In the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader, East Carolina took an initial 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Pirates used a key single by Krista Jessup to earn the early advantage.
East Carolina's Christina Sheridan and Kate Manuse walked to open the inning, then Jessup scorched a drive down the left-field line to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. ECU's next batter, Andiey Acosta, flied out to deep center field to score pinch runner Dany'ele Hill from third base.
The Pirates' starting pitcher Keli Harrell took a no-hitter into the top of the fifth inning before UAB's Jenna Robison doubled off the left-field wall. Robison, the Blazers' freshman designated player from Pinson, made her first career start on Wednesday and finished the first game with a team-leading .333 batting average.
East Carolina exploded for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase its lead to 5-0.
In the frame, the Pirates reeled off four-consecutive hits and used a key double to left-center field from Manuse to drive in the trio of ECU runs. Manuse, a native of Chantililly, Va., went 1-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBI in the first game.
In the top of the sixth inning, UAB cut the Pirates' lead to 5-2 as freshman Holly Krzan blasted a two-run shot over the left-field wall.
With two outs and senior Amanda Ellis on first base, Krzan powered the first home run of her collegiate career well over the 210-foot wall in left field. The Blazers' native of West Richland, Wash., finished the opening game of the doubleheader with a 1-for-3 average and two RBI.
The Pirates jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second game of the doubleheader on Wednesday.
After leadoff batter Kristen Johnson reached second base on a throwing error by UAB's starting pitcher Tara Higashino, East Carolina's Lacassa Hill singled through the right side of the infield to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Johnson, ECU's senior from Stedman, N.C., scored from second base on the play.
The Blazers' manufactured a run in the top of the fourth inning to even the score at 1-1.
Krzan, UAB's starting centerfielder, led off the frame with a double down the left-field line and scored on a throwing error by third baseman Andiey Acosta. On the play, the Blazers' Carrie Christophel grounded a shot to Acosta, but the Pirates' junior misfired on the throw to allow Krzan to score from second base. Krzan currently leads UAB with 14 runs scored on the season.
East Carolina rallied for a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead.
With two outs in the frame, Manuse drew a walk and advanced to second base on a single up the middle by Hill. The Pirates' Kaycie Maines then pinch ran for Manuse and scored on a line-drive single to left field by Jessup. Jessup, East Carolina's sophomore catcher from Tampa, Fla., went 3-for-3 in the game and knocked in the game-winning run.
The Blazers attempted to make a late scoring rally against East Carolina in the top of the seventh inning, but were thwarted by the Pirates' Maggie Lingo as she forced UAB's Chelsea McCall and Beth Mullins to ground out to end the game.
UAB opened the inning with a single to left field by junior Dusti Roberts and a double over the right fielder's head by Sara Christophel. Roberts finished the contest with a perfect 3-for-3 batting average.
The UAB softball team will next be in action on Saturday as the Blazers conclude their 11-game road trip with a two-game matchup against the Chattanooga Lady Mocs beginning at 2 p.m. at Jim Frost Stadium.
East Carolina (25-6-1, 2-3) def. UAB (13-15, 2-3), 5-2
UAB 000 002 0 - 2 3 0
ECU 000 230 x - 5 7 1
Top Hitters: UAB, Jenna Robison 1-2 2B, Holly Krzan 1-3, HR, R, RBI; ECU, Christine Sheridan 2-2, RBI, R, Andiey Acosta 1-1 RBI.
WP: Keli Harrell (7-1), LP: Tara Higashino (7-7).
Save: Maggie Lingo (4).
East Carolina (26-6-1, 3-3) def. UAB (13-16, 2-4), 2-1
UAB 000 100 0 - 1 7 2
ECU 100 010 x - 2 8 4
Top Hitters: UAB, Dusti Roberts 3-3, Holly Krzan 2-3 R, Sara Christophel 2-4; ECU, Krista Jessup 3-3 RBI, Dany'ele Hill 2-3, Kate Manuse 1-2.
WP: Maggie Lingo (9-2), LP: Tara Higashino (7-8).
