Pirates sail past UTSA in conference opener, 10-5

by | Mar 8, 2025

It was a good night for the East Carolina University softball team in its AAC opener on Friday.

Emma Jackson hit a grand slam in the seventh inning that blew the game open and allowed the Pirates to take a 10-5 win.

Below are more details from ECU Sports Information.

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Photo credit: Emma Jackson (ECU Sports Information photo)

By ECUPirates.com

SAN ANTONIO – Emma Jackson hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning as East Carolina defeated UTSA, 10-5, in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams on Friday night at Roadrunner Field.

East Carolina’s (13-7, 1-0 AAC) offense was on full display all night with 12 hits including three home runs as every batter in the starting lineup got on base at least once. ECU also won its first AAC opener since the 2019 season.

After forcing the Pirates to go one-two-three in the top of the first, UTSA jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, getting its first three batters on base capped off with an RBI double. Taylor Apple rebounded with two strikeouts to limit the damage done by the Roadrunners and the Pirates’ offense would get on the board in the top of the second as Sutton hit a solo shot over the outfield wall to make the score 2-1.

Chloe Geijer lined a ball to the right field wall for a triple and Mary-Kathryn Scott followed up with an RBI double of her own to tie the game going into the bottom of the second.
UTSA attempted to advance a runner on first twice but the Pirates got the lead runner out twice, first on a sac bunt attempt and then on a fielder’s choice.

The Pirates tacked on two more runs in the top of the third on a two-run homer from Annie Kate Dalton but the Roadrunners answered with a long ball of their own in the bottom of the third to make the score 4-3.

Dalton recorded another two-run hit this time by way of a double to left field in the top of the fourth to extend the Pirates’ lead to 6-3 before the Roadrunners scored a run in the bottom of the fifth and sixth inning to pull within one run going into the final inning.

ECU quickly loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and with one swing of her bat, Jackson completely flipped the game, increasing ECU’s lead to 10-5. Taylor Apple (6-2) reentered in the bottom of the seventh and retired three of UTSA’s final four batters to pick up the win.

Up Next
East Carolina continues its series with UTSA Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

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