ECU Softball Downed by No. 21/24 Hawai’i, 8-0

The Pirates allow seven of eight runs in the first and fifth inning

HONOLULU, Hawaii March 10, 2013 – East Carolina’s softball team (8-13) was shutout in a run-shortened contest for the second straight game in falling to No. 21/24 Hawai’i (16-5) by an 8-0 score on Saturday, March 9, in the second day of the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Sarah Christian (6-6) started for the Pirates, surrendered three runs on four hits and was tagged with the loss. Courtney Smith pitched a pair of innings and allowed just one run and two hits while striking out a pair. Freshman Mary Beth Smith had a rough inning of work that saw her give up four runs and two walks. Kaia Parnsby (14-2) earned the win with six shutout inning and eight strikeouts.

It was another rocky start for ECU as Hawai’i scored three in the opening frame. Kelly Majam was hit by a Christian offering, moved to second on Kayla Wartner’s single to short right field and both runners moved up a base on a walk to Keiki Carlos. After a fielder’s choice grounder to third to eliminated Majam at the plate, Leisha Li’ili’i drove in two with a single to center. The ball was also thrown away on the attempted play at the plate to allow the third run to score.

Hawai’i attempted to put together a two-out rally in the second on a Majam single and a Wartner hit by pitch, but Christian induced a ground out to escape the inning unscored upon.

Junior Kristi Oshiro ripped a one-out double in the third for the first and only Pirate hit in the game, but the next two were retired on a strike out and a line out to keep the margin at three.

The fifth started promisingly with junior Jordan Lewis drawing a walk. After a strikeout and then pop out on a bunt attempted, fellow junior Jasmine Robbins struck a ball well that was run down in right-centerfield by Majam up against the wall.

Hawai’i hit three home runs in a span of five batters to score four runs in the fifth inning. Solo back-to-back blasts from Majam and Wartner to each side of center field made it a 5-0 game. After a walk to Iwata, Li’ili’i hit a line drive shot that barely rose over the wall to increase the deficit to seven.

The Rainbow Wahine finished the game with a double steal of home to see Alyssa Villalpando score ahead of the attempted throw back to home as Brynne Buchanan stole second.

The Pirates wrap up play in the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament with contests against Portland State at 6 p.m. (ET) and No. 21/24 Hawai’i at 10 p.m. (ET) on March 10.