Pirates hold off North Texas in softball series opener, 7-5

by | May 3, 2025

The East Carolina softball team overcame a three-hour rain delay and North Texas to pick up a 7-5 victory on Friday.

Below are more details from ECU Sports Information.

Check out Pirate Radio

Website | Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | YouTube

=====

Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information photo)

By ECUPirates.com

Annie Kate Dalton went 2-for-3 at the plate and Joie Fittante hit a two-run RBI double as East Carolina overcame a three-hour rain delay and a late inning comeback attempt to defeat North Texas, 7-5, in the series opener on Friday at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium.

Logan Sutton and Anna Sawyer each had an RBI for the Pirates (27-25, 12-13 AAC) who scored three of their seven runs on a Mean Green wild pitch or error.

The Pirates quickly plated two runs in the bottom of the first on a Sutton RBI single and a North Texas throwing error but the Mean Green responded with a solo home run in the top of the second and an RBI double in the top of the third.

ECU’s big third inning got started as the Pirates loaded the bases and Sawyer drew a walk to put ECU back in front 3-2. Dalton scored on a wild pitch to increase the Pirates’ lead to 4-2 and another wild throw from the circle scored Sutton to make it 5-2.

Fittante capped off the five-run inning for ECU with a two-run double down the left field line to give the Pirates a 7-2 lead going into the fourth inning.

North Texas scored a run in the top of the fourth to cut ECU’s lead to four runs and after a scoreless fifth inning for both teams, an initial lightning delay turned into a three-hour delay before the start of the sixth inning.

The Mean Green’s bats came out of the delay on fire as a two-run RBI double trimmed the Pirates’ lead to just two runs. ECU went one-two-three in the bottom of the sixth and North Texas got a runner on base with a single in the top of the seventh to put the game-tying run at the plate with no outs.

Jordan Hatch entered the circle and forced three straight outs to end the Mean Green’s comeback attempt and get the Pirates the series-opening win.

Kendall Frost (12-15) picked up the win with three strikeouts in six innings while Hatch got her first save of the year.

Up Next
Due to Friday’s weather delay, East Carolina and North Texas will play a doubleheader for Senior Day Saturday with the first game slated to start at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

Top Headlines

Shockers outlast Pirates 5-4 in series opener

Wichita State got all of its runs in the first two innings, including four in the second inning, and held on to beat East Carolina 5-4 on Friday in the AAC series opener. Buccaneer Scoreboard Final - ECU Baseball drops game 1 to Wichita State....

Former ECU center now member of CFL’s Argonauts

The CFL’s Toronto Argonauts have announced that former East Carolina University center Hampton Ergle has joined the team. On X, the Argonauts posted “Hampton Ergle and Jas Khaira are officially Boatmen ⚓️ .” The team also announced the signing of three of its draft...

ECU football program announces staff additions

East Carolina's football program has added additional staff to the program, the school announced on Friday. Head coach Blake Harrell announced six new staff members. ECU Sports Information has more details on those hired. Check out Pirate Radio Website | Facebook | X...

PRL Friday: Parker Moorer on shot at NFL, ECU baseball and more

It's Friday, and "Pirate Radio Live" is set to get you ready for the weekend. Clip, Chandler and the gang will have a lot to talk about again as we get you ready for the sports weekend. In addition to the NBA, NHL, baseball and even the Kentucky Derby, we'll be...

Winston Wright’s journey to NFL has been a long but good one

Former East Carolina football receiver Winston Wright Jr. got the call he had been waiting for last Sunday. He heard from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who extended an invitation for him to join their rookie minicamp next month. It’s the chance he’s been waiting for to...

Pirates head west for AAC series with Wichita State

The East Carolina baseball team is at Wichita State for a three-game series that starts on Friday at.7 p.m. The series continues Saturday at 3 p.m. with the Sunday contest slated for 2 p.m. Below is a preview from ECU Sports Information. Check out Pirate Radio Website...

Where does Harold Varner III rank in LIV Golf money winnings?

The LIV Golf Tour is in South Korea for its next event. It runs Friday-Sunday, but began Thursday night our time due to the time difference. Among the participants is East Carolina golf alum Harold Varner III. Six events have been completed this season, with the last...

Punter announces he’ll play final season at ECU

Punter Ryan Leavy has a new home. He announced on social media on Thursday that he will play his final year of college football eligibility at East Carolina. Leavy spent the 2024 season at Duke as a backup punter. He announced on Dec. 4, 2024, that he was entering the...

Is Trey Yesavage ready for a promotion?

East Carolina baseball alum Trey Yesavage gets his fifth start for the Dunedin Blue Jays Thursday evening. Happy Trey Yesavage Day to you and yours! #BlueJays https://t.co/g2es1uDaOl — Thomas Hall (@Hall_Thomas_) May 1, 2025 The first-round pick by the Toronto Blue...