The ECU softball team advanced to the American Conference tournament final with a win over Wichita State on Friday.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
Hailey Deter’s sixth-inning two-run home run lifted East Carolina past No. 2 Wichita State 3-2 in the semifinals of the American Conference Softball Championship on Friday evening at Max R. Joyner Family Softball Stadium.
The Pirates (34-24) advance to the American Softball Championship game for the first time in since joining the league, where they will face No. 1 South Florida on Saturday at noon ET on ESPN2.
East Carolina struck first in the third inning after Kanisha Anderson and Anna Sawyer reached base, Gabby Fowler delivered an RBI single through the left side to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
Wichita State answered in the bottom half of the inning as Ausha Moore connected on a solo home run to left field to even the score.
The Shockers took the lead in the fourth inning when Mackenzie Rooney launched a solo home run off the batter’s eye in center field.
East Carolina responded in the sixth. A lead off double put the tying run in scoring position, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third, Deter blasted a two-run home run over the left-field wall to give the Pirates a 3-2 advantage.
Wichita State threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but Julia Apostolakos recorded a strikeout to end the game and send the Pirates to the championship.
Sydney Rainford started in the circle for East Carolina, allowing one run over 4.0 innings. Julia Apostolakos (18-11) earned the win in relief, striking out eight batters while allowing one run over the final three innings.
Ryley Nihart (16-11) took the loss for Wichita State after allowing two earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched. Jade Sanders recorded the final two outs in relief.