GREENVILLE, N.C. - After recording two more victories Sunday to reach the championship contest of 2005 Holiday Inn Express Pirate Classic, the East Carolina softball squad fell one run short of capturing the tournament title after falling 7-6 to the College of Charleston at the ECU Softball Field.

The Pirates concluded pool play Sunday morning by posting their second straight tournament shutout win over Ohio (12-0) to advance to the semifinal round. After sophomore pitcher Keli Harrell struck out the side to start the game, ECU followed by scoring four runs in the home half of the first innning to jump out to a quick lead. East Carolina added four more runs in the third and fourth innings to secure the victory.

Mandi Nichols went 3-of-3 and drove in four - three coming on a long home run in the fourth to put the game out of reach. Harrell picked up her fourth victory, scattering only two hits while striking out eight in five innnings.

In the semifinal matchup, East Carolina knocked off Radford 3-2 in eight innings to advance to the championship game. Nichols continued her hot hitting with a run-scoring single to leftfield to drive in Ashley Quick for the game-winner. Harrell came on in relief to pick up her fifth win of the year while Beth Nolan accounted for another ECU score, delivering a line-drive solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth. Kate Manuse also added a solo homerun in the sixth inning.

In the tournament final, the Pirates took an early 1-0 lead on Shirley Burleson's solo homer in the top of the first but the College of Charleston answered with back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the third frame to take a 2-1 advantage.

The Cougars used Jessica Lyness' three-run round-tripper in the fourth inning to extend their cushion to 5-1 before the Pirates struck back in the top half of the fifth when Nolan drove in a pair of runs with a single to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Charleston (9-4) added two more in the bottom of the sixth to push its lead to 7-3 heading into the the Pirates' half of the seventh. East Carolina rallied with three straight singles to load the bases with no one out, but after scoring three runs to get within 7-6, Cougar reliever Rachel Stern quickly ended ECU's comeback hopes by striking out two of the last three batters.

The Pirates (12-2) will return to action next Friday and Saturday, traveling to Wilmington, N.C., for participation in the Seahawk Classic.

Holiday Inn Express Pirate Classic

Sunday February 20th

#4 Villanova 6, #5 Fordham 0
#3 Towson 5, #6 Radford 6
#1 College of Charleston 10, #8 Army 0
#2 East Carolina 12, #7 Ohio 0

#4 Villanova 1, #1 College of Charleston 2
#2 East Carolina 3, #6 Radford 2 (8 Innings)

Championship Game

#1 College of Chaleston 7, #2 East Carolina 6