ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – The Elizabeth City State University softball team swept a conference doubleheader against St. Augustine's University by scores of 5-2 and 17-9 on Wednesday afternoon at the South Park Athletic Complex.
 
THE BASICS
 
Scores:
Game 1: ECSU 5, St. Augustine's 2
Game 2: ECSU 17, St. Augustine's 9
 
Location: Elizabeth City, N.C. (South Park Athletic Complex)
 
Records: ECSU 5-13, 5-4 CIAA – St. Augustine's 1-9, 1-7 CIAA
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Game 1
 
The Vikings jumped out to an early lead after scoring three in the first inning. Two defensive errors by the Falcons on the same play scored Alyssa Griffin and Stephanie Komives to register the first two runs of the contest. D'Aysa Wilson later came around to score off of a wild pitch score the third run of the ECSU half of the first.
 
Starting pitcher Sara Phillips notched two scoreless innings before giving up a run in the top of the third.
 
ECSU put up a run in the fourth as Sydney Smith crossed home following a passed ball. The Vikings extended their lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth as Alexis Blackwell scored off of a St. Augustine's defensive error.
 
The Falcons drew closer in the top of the seventh as they scored one additional run before ECSU stopped the threat.
 
Game 2
 
The Falcons struck first in game number two as starting pitcher Shea Vaccaro gave up an RBI single to center field. ECSU quickly struck back in the bottom half of the inning as they plated five runs to take a 5-1 lead after one inning of play.
 
St. Augustine's responded with one run in the top half of the second off of a groundout to third base that brought around a runner from third.
 
ECSU piled on three more runs in the bottom half of the second off of RBI singles from Alyssa Griffin and Alexis Blackwell. Hailey Ryan notched an RBI off of a groundout to first to complete the second effort in the second.
 
St. Augustine's responded in the top half of the third and the top half of the fourth with an RBI single from the pitcher and another RBI single off of the bat of the second baseman.
 
The Vikings expanded their lead to 11-4 after four complete following RBI single from Hailey Ryan that scored two and a Shea Vaccaro bases loaded walk that scored Ryan from third.
 
St. Augustine's responded yet again in the top half of the fifth as they plated five runs off of three RBI hits to draw to 11-9.
 
From that point on it was all ECSU as the Vikings plated two in the bottom of the fifth and four in the bottom of the sixth to take the 6-inning win 17-9.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Vikings will be on the road at Chowan on Saturday, March 30^th for a conference doubleheader against the Hawks. The start times are slated for noon and 2:00 p.m.