COLUMBIA, S.C. – The East Carolina softball team opened its season with a split at the Gamecock Invitational, falling 4-2 to Virginia before bouncing back to defeat Providence 6-4 at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field on Friday evening.
Game One: Virginia 4, East Carolina 2
East Carolina fell in its season opener, 4-2, to Virginia as the Pirates were unable to overcome a three-run sixth inning from the Cavaliers. Logan Sutton had a double and an RBI and Annie Kate Dalton added an RBI as well but the Pirates only tallied five hits as a team in a game that was a pitcher’s duel for the first five innings.
The Pirates threatened to score the game’s first run in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs but ECU was unable to get a run across. The fifth frame was a one-two-three inning for both offenses but two defensive errors from ECU allowed the Cavaliers to bring in three runs in the top of the sixth. ECU responded in the bottom of the sixth on Sutton’s RBI double to plate the Pirates’ first run of the season and trim the run deficit to just two going into the seventh inning.
After Virginia added another run in the top of the seventh to make the score 4-1, the Pirates put together one last effort, loading the bases with just one out. Dalton reached on a fielder’s choice and Kanisha Anderson scored but Virginia was able to throw out the Pirates’ remaining two runners to end the game.
Kendall Frost (0-1) had an impressive freshman debut in the circle, tossing five strikes in seven innings.
Savanah Henley (1-0) picked up the win for Virginia with seven strikeouts in seven innings.
Game Two: East Carolina 6, Providence 4
Annie Kate Dalton led the way for the Pirates’ offense, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run as the Pirates built an early lead before holding off Providence late to win 6-4. Logan Sutton and Chloe Geijer also turned in multi-hit games, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
ECU got its offense going early with two runs in the bottom of the second before extending its lead to 5-0 after Dalton’s solo home run and Hailey Massaro’s two RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.
The Friars would not go away quietly, tacking on four runs in the top of the sixth but Providence left the bases loaded with just one out as Taylor Apple struck out the next batter and forced a fly out to end the rally.
ECU added another run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 6-4 and Frost would enter the circle in the top of the seventh, forcing three outs of her four batters faced to pick up the save and give East Carolina its first win of the 2025 season.
Taylor Apple (1-0) picked up the win in the circle with seven strikeouts tossed while the Friars’ Alannah Hopkins (0-1) gave up six hits and three earned runs in the loss.
Up Next
East Carolina faces Saint Francis Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Gamecock Invitational.
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