CHARLESTON, S.C. – The East Carolina softball team continued its hot start to the season, moving to 5-0 after defeating Saint Joseph’s 8-0 in six innings and College of Charleston 8-4 on the second day of the Charleston Invitational on Saturday.
Game One: East Carolina 8, St. Joseph’s 0 (6 inn.)
Emma Jackson went 3-of-3 at the plate and tallied an RBI as East Carolina shutout Saint Joseph’s 8-0 in six innings on day two of the Charleston Invitational.
Annie Kate Dalton had an impressive day at the plate for ECU as well, hitting a solo home run in the third inning and two-run shot in the sixth inning to seal the run-rule victory.
The Pirates recorded their third straight run-rule victory for the first time since the 2017 season when ECU defeated Portland State and Seton Hall by scores of 14-2 (5), 8-0 (5) and 18-4 (5). It is also marked the first time ECU has recorded three straight shutouts since the 2011 season.
Jordan Hatch (2-0) continued the Pirates’ dominant early-season pitching, fanning six batters in 5.1 innings of work and allowing just one hit.
Game Two: East Carolina 8, College of Charleston 4
Anna Sawyer and Emma Jackson both went 3-of-4 at the plate as East Carolina defeated College of Charleston 8-4 on day two of the Charleston Invitational.
Much like their first four games, the Pirates got off to a quick start after back-to-back hits by Jackson and Dalton put ECU in scoring position early and Anna Sawyer’s two RBI double would cap off a three-run first inning for the Purple and Gold.
The Cougars would tack on two runs in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a two RBI single but the Pirates would respond with two runs of their own in the top of the third inning to extend their lead to 5-2. Morgan Johnson would hit a two-run single in the top of the fourth to push the Pirate lead to 7-2 and ECU would tally another run before holding off a late comeback attempt from the Cougars in the final frame for the win.
Taylor Apple (2-0) picked up her second win of the season in the circle for the Pirates.