TAMPA, Fla. --- Third-seeded East Carolina totaled just four hits, including only two in the first six innings, and fell to sixth-seeded Southern Miss, 4-1, in the opening round of the 2005 Conference USA Softball Tournament here Thursday. East Carolina will now face the loser of the Louisville-USF/Houston game on Friday at 12:30 in an elimination game.

Southern Miss pitcher Danielle Wymer (12-15) fanned 12 batters to lead the Golden Eagles to their third consecutive win over the Pirates, who have now loast three straight for the first time this season. USM defeated ECU in the final two games of the regular season.

After surrendering one run in the top of the first, ECU (55-18) answered with a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame. Senior Kate Manuse drew a one-out walks and then scored from first base on a two-out double off the wall by senior Leigh Savoy.

The Golden Eagles answered back with three runs in the second to complete the scoring. Dianne Hammes and Ashley Brennan hit back-to-back home runs to give Southern Miss a 4-1 lead. Kelly Crooks singled with one out before Brennan stepped to the plate and hit her fourth home run of the year. USM threatened to add to its inning total, but left fielder Alison Monce threw out Melissa Prouty at the plate trying to score from second base before Keli Harrell struck out Jessica Huerta to end the Golden Eagles' scoring barrage.

ECU used several outstanding defensive plays over the next three innings to keep Southern Miss (29-30) off the scoreboard. Junior third baseman Ashley Quick fielded a sharply hit ball and threw across the diamond to retire the side with the basses loaded in the fifth and junior Krista Jessup then tagged out Brennan trying to steal home to end the sixth.

Following a leadoff walk to Manuse in the sixth, pinch runner Brently Bridgeforth then swiped second base to enter an ECU runner into scoring position for just the third time today. Bridgeforth was then called out trying to move to third following a groundout to end the inning.

The Pirates loaded the bases in the bottom of seventh on an infield hit by freshman Erin St. Ledger and a two-out walk to freshman Laurel Carlson and a base-hit by Beth Nolan. Wymer then struck out Jessup to end the game.

Savoy collected each of the Pirates' first two hits, while Manuse drew three walks to reach safely all three times.

Harrell (29-12) struck out nine batters in her 34th complete game effort of the season, while allowing eight hits.