East Carolina Rally Falls Just Short In One-Run Loss To Elon

Wednesday, March 22

Greenville, N.C.

4:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

16-14

Elon

18-9

Elon

East Carolina

East Carolina Rally Falls Just Short In One-Run Loss To Elon

March 22, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Once down 9-0 in Wednesday's non-conference contest against Elon, East Carolina put together a big rally but came up just short in a 10-9 loss at the ECU Softball Stadium.

Team Records: East Carolina: (16-14) | Elon: (18-9)

The Pirates pounded out three more home runs to increase their American Athletic Conference leading total to 40. ECU now has two players with double-digit long balls in redshirt junior catcher Alex Mycek and junior infielder Meredith Burroughs who have both hit 10.

The Rundown
Senior outfielder Ciara Ervin and Burroughs rapped out three hits apiece while Burroughs scored a pair of runs. Redshirt freshman infielder Tate McClellan also chipped in with two runs scored and two RBI. Alaina Hall went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and drove in a run for the visiting Phoenix.

Sophomore RHP Mary Williams (4-8) tossed her fourth complete game of the year in the loss, allowing 10 runs (six earned) on 13 hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. She also matched her season high in strikeouts. Kenna Quinn (6-3) earned the win in relief after surrendering four runs (three earned) on seven hits. She fanned three batters and walked one.

The Decisive Innings
Elon built an early 5-0 lead in the third inning on the back of a six-hit output. The Phoenix also took advantage of a Pirate error as only two of the runs in the frame were earned.

With Elon still leading comfortably 10-2 in the fifth, East Carolina put up a four spot thanks in part to a leadoff home run by Burroughs. A trio of walks then loaded the bases before a key Phoenix error allowed two runs to cross the plate. Ervin put the cap on the inning with a RBI single to leave the score at 10-6.

Burroughs led off the bottom of the sixth with a double down the right field line and came around to score on a RBI single by sophomore utility player Morgan Halo. Junior infielder Karlie Smith followed with a RBI single of her own to score senior outfielder Ali Ramirez and slice the Elon lead to 10-8.

The Purple and Gold attempted to complete the comeback in the bottom of the seventh as leadoff hitter and senior infielder Megan Quick connected on a 1-1 pitch and sent it well over the wall in left center to make it a one-run game. Burroughs roped a two-out single up the middle later in the inning to bring up Mycek who flied out just short of the warning track in left center to end the contest.

Statistics of the Game
The teams combined to leave 18 runners on base while the Phoenix was 4-for-5 with a runner on third and less than two outs. Elon also made good on 17 of its 22 opportunities to advance runners.

Up Next
East Carolina opens up its AAC schedule this weekend, traveling to Memphis for a three-game series at the Tigers Softball Complex. Friday's series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT