Spring Break
Softball suffers tough weekend
Staff Reports
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Sports
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The hosts wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, plating two in the bottom of the first. All-America third baseman Kelley Montalvo led off the inning with a double to left center and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Another All-America selection, Charlotte Morgan, followed with a walk to put runners on the corners. Freshman Amanda Locke followed with a short fly ball into right field that forced out Morgan at second base but drove in Montalvo, putting the Tide ahead 1-0. Lauren Parker finished the damage for Alabama in the first, as her single up the middle scored Locke.
Alabama pitcher Kelsi Dunne, a Freshman All-America selection last spring, retired the first four Pirates, three via strikeouts, before Angel Barrella worked a walk in the top of the second. After Charina Sumner's hard liner to left was caught, Sarah Bibee singled through the left side of the infield to put two runners on base with two outs. Another strikeout by Dunne, however, ended the rally and frame for ECU.
The Crimson Tide added another run in the second when Jazlyn Lunceford singled up the middle, stole second and scored as the throw from the Pirate catcher hit off a sliding Lunceford's helmet and caromed into left center field.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Crimson Tide put the game out of reach. A walk and an error put the first two batters of the inning on the corners, and with one out later, Eubanks redeemed herself by knocking in a run with a single to put Alabama ahead 4-0. Lunceford then followed by hitting a three-run home run to right field for a 7-0 lead.
The game ended in the bottom of the sixth when Alabama used a lead off double by Whitney Larson and a run-scoring single to right field by Kendall Dawson. Despite the loss, the Pirates were the first team during Bash play not to be run-ruled in five innings by the Crimson Tide.
On Saturday, ECU opened up play with a 2-1 loss to Notre Dame. A solo homerun by Fighting Irish sophomore second baseman Katie Fleury in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the difference in the contest.
The nightcap saw the Pirates fall to Wisconsin 3-1. The story for ECU in the game was missed opportunities as the team left 13 runners on base. Freshman Caitlin Wainright, making the first start of her career in the circle for ECU, suffered the loss after allowing two runs on five hits in six-plus innings of work.
ECU opened the bash with a 2-1 victory over the Badgers Friday afternoon.
Kaui Tom provided the game-winning run as she knocked in Jessica Johnson with a double off the wall in the bottom of the sixth inning. Reigning Conference USA Pitcher-of-the-Week Toni Paisley picked up the win -- and 10 strikeouts -- to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Tom was the Pirates' only representative on the all-tournament team.
The Pirates now have nearly a full week off before playing at the Seminole Classic in Tallahassee, Fla., next weekend.
ECU opens tourney play by facing Michigan and Florida State, both 2008 NCAA Regional participants, on Saturday.
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