Miami (Ohio) 3, ECU 1; ECU 3, USC Upstate 1
ECU capped off an impressive opening weekend Sunday by splitting a pair of games Sunday, falling to Miami (Ohio) 3-1 before downing host USC Upstate 3-1 in the tournament finale. ECU ended the weekend winning four of five games, marking the first time the Pirates have carried a 4-1 record out of opening weekend since 2015.
In the morning game, Morgan Halo delivered a hit and drove in a run as ECU out-hit the Redhawks 5-4 in the narrow setback. Whitney Sanford took the tough loss, surrendering three runs (two earned) on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Erin Poepping was brilliant in the circle against USC Upstate, tossing a complete game and scattering four hits while allowing just one earned run. She struck out seven batters and walked just one. Ashley Weingartz posted two hits, a run scored and a RBI to lead the Pirates.
Wichita State 7, Pitt 2
Wichita State snapped its three-game losing streak on Sunday, defeating Pitt 7-2 on the final day of the Cougar Classic. Caitlin Bingham led the Shockers in the circle, striking out a career-high 10 batters and allowing just three hits. Bingham's performance was the fourth time in the last three seasons that a Shocker pitcher recorded double-digit strikeouts. Lauren Mills and Laurie Derrico each finished with two hits, while Madison Perrigan drove home two runs and Bailey Lange collected three RBI in the win.
Memphis 11, Michigan State 9
After a slow start to the weekend, Memphis ended on a high-note with an 11-9 victory over Michigan State Sunday afternoon. The Tigers improve to 2-3 on the year and earned their first-ever win over Big Ten foe Michigan State. Seven players registered a hit on the afternoon, including five players with at least two hits. Samantha Ibison led the Tigers with four hits and three runs. Regan Hadley added two more RBI to her total to help lead the Tigers and finished with 10 total RBI this weekend. Delaney Smith extended her hitting streak to a team-leading seven games and Ashley Threatt's streak extended to six games. Bayleigh Wisher earned the victory after three innings of relief in the circle.
Houston 2, Sam Houston State 1
Trystan Melancon threw a complete game victory on Sunday to lead Houston to a 2-1 win over Sam Houston State at Cougar Softball Stadium. With the win, the Cougars move to 2-3 on the young season. Melancon allowed just two hits and one earned run with three strikeouts, having retired 14 of the final 15 batters she faced. Lindsey Stewart and Sarah Queen each recorded a triple on the afternoon. Sarah Barker, along with Stewart, scored both of Houston's runs.
FIU 7, UConn 0
UConn's trio of Briana Marcelino, Kelli Bates, and Kiwi McDaniel were the owners of the Huskies' three hits in the afternoon matchup against FIU on Sunday afternoon. UConn was outdueled by FIU pitcher Megan Kugelmann, who tossed seven innings with two strikeouts and hit Reese Guevarra in the final inning. Jill Stockley took the loss for the Huskies, pitching two innings allowing four hits and three runs.
Florida 7, USF 1
Doubles for AnaMarie Bruni and Lindsey Devitt proved to be the only hits for USF as the Bulls fell to Florida 7-1 Sunday afternoon. Bruni opened the game with a leadoff double in the bottom of the first before scoring on Devitt's RBI double moments later, but Florida responded with a run in the top of the second to tie the game before four runs in the fourth and two final runs in the sixth to extend the lead. Nicole Doyle took the loss in the circle, allowing five runs on two hits with four walks in four innings of work.