With a deflated game on the offensive side of the ball, the Pack fell in both games in its doubleheader to the East Carolina Pirates with the final score of 0-1 and 0-7 respectively.
In the first game State was unable to capitalize on its offensive opportunities as well as it has all season. The Pack only pulled out four hits on the day and left seven on base.
The game became a battle of the pitchers early on, which lasted throughout the entire game. State’s Lindsay Campana, who allowed six hits, and ECU’s Toni Paisley, held the score at zero apiece through the first seven innings.
“We just couldn’t pull it together at the right time. We had hits at certain points, but they weren’t clutch hits. They weren’t at the right moments,” shortstop Breanna Andrews said.
ECU pulled out the victory with the game winning RBI by Suzanne Rigs. Second baseman Charina Sumner scored the run.
“The same thing happened to us last year. Held them to 0-0 and everything, and they just put some stuff together,” Campana said. “They just put stuff together at the right time, and we just couldn’t get into it. “
In the second game of the night, ECU’s offense shot out of the cannon to build on its momentum. In the second inning, ECU’s Sissy Jimenez hit a home run over the center field wall to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Pirates began to pour it onto the Pack. ECU scored five runs on five hits given up and two errors from the Pack, including another homerun from Jimenez. At the top of the sixth inning, ECU’s Kai Clark took another homerun over center field to give the Pirates the 7-0 lead.
“We‘ve played them every year since I’ve been here,” Campana said. “They’re a very good hitting team. They don’t have a lot to lose.”
ECU’s Faith Sutton held the Pack to two hits on for game two, State allowed 11 hits for the Pirate’s offense. State also did not help itself on the defensive end, as it committed four errors in both games.
“We’re giving up hits, but then as a defense we weren’t helping her out at all by making any clutch plays and giving up a couple of errors,” second basemen Alyssa Ishibashi said. “They made the plays whereas we didn’t. “
The Pack will be back in action to play a three game series against Virginia in Charlottesville, Va on April 17.
“This weekend, we’ll definitely do better. This was just a bad day and tomorrow at practice we’re [going to] shake it off,” Andrews said. “We’re [going to] go out and do better, and we’re [going to] play hard.”