GREENVILLE, NC – Hailey Deter’s sixth-inning two-run home run lifted East Carolina past No. 2 Wichita State 3-2 in the semifinals of the American Conference Softball Championship on Friday evening at Joyner Family Softball Stadium.
 
The Pirates (34-24) advance to the championship game, where they will face No. 1 South Florida on Saturday at noon ET on ESPN2.
 
East Carolina struck first in the third inning. After Kanisha Anderson and Anna Sawyer reached base, Gabby Fowler delivered an RBI single through the left side to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
 
Wichita State answered in the bottom half of the inning as Ausha Moore connected on a solo home run to left field to even the score.
 
The Shockers took the lead in the fourth inning when Mackenzie Rooney launched a solo home run off the batter’s eye in center field.
 
East Carolina responded in the sixth. A leadoff double put the tying run in scoring position, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third, Deter blasted a two-run home run over the left-field wall to give the Pirates a 3-2 advantage.
 
Wichita State threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but Julia Apostolakos recorded a strikeout to end the game and send the Pirates to the championship.
 
Sydney Rainford started in the circle for East Carolina, allowing one run over 4.0 innings. Apostolakos (18-11) earned the win in relief, striking out eight batters while allowing one run over the final three innings.
 
Ryley Nihart (16-11) took the loss for Wichita State after allowing two earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched. Jade Sanders recorded the final two outs in relief.
 
2026 AMERICAN SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Joyner Family Softball Stadium | Greenville, North Carolina
 
Wednesday, May 6 | First and Second Round
Game 1: No. 8 Tulsa 2, No. 9 UAB 1 | Box Score

Game 2: No. 7 UTSA 8, No. 10 Memphis 6 | Box Score

Game 3: No. 5 Charlotte 2, No. 8 Tulsa 0 | Box Score

Game 4: No. 6 North Texas 7, No. 7 UTSA 6 | Box Score
Thursday, May 7 | Quarterfinals
Game 5: No. 4 Florida Atlantic 5, No. 5 Charlotte 4 | Box Score

Game 6: No. 3 East Carolina 4, No. 6 North Texas 2 | Box Score
Friday, May 8 | Semifinals
Game 7: No. 1 South Florida 3, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 0 | Box Score

Game 8: No. 3 East Carolina 3, No. 2 Wichita State 2 | Box Score
Saturday, May 9 | Championship
Game 9: No. 1 South Florida vs No. 3 East Carolina | 12 p.m. | ESPN2
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