TAMPA, Fla. – East Carolina’s Emma Jackson connected on two home runs as the No. 6 Pirates sailed past No. 10 Memphis 7-1 in the second round of the American Softball Championship.
The Pirates advance to the quarterfinals to play No. 3 Charlotte tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Memphis scored first, scoring off a Zoe Adebayo single down the third base line. A fielding error in left field allowed Arianna Cox-Cole to advance home for the opening run of the game.
The Pirates tied the game in the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run to centerfield from Emma Jackson.
Jackson launched a second home run an inning later with a two-run blast to left field to put the Pirates up 3-1.
The scoring continued for the Pirates in the fifth inning when Mary-Kathryn Scott hit an RBI double down the left field line. Kanisha Anderson followed on the next pitch with a two-RBI double up the middle.
With the bases loaded in the sixth inning, Gabby Fowler hit a line drive to shortstop on a fielder’s choice to drive in the seventh run of the day for East Carolina.
Kendall Frost (13-15) earned the victory for the Pirates, tossing 5.0 innings in the circle with four strikeouts. Taylor Apple finishing the final two scoreless innings.
2025 American Athletic Conference Softball Championship
May 7-10, 2025
USF Softball Stadium | Tampa, Florida
Wednesday, May 7 | First and Second Round
Game 1: No. 8 Tulsa 1, No. 9 UTSA 0
Box Score | Highlights | Recap
Game 2: No. 10 Memphis 6, No. 7 UAB 5
Box Score | Highlights | Recap
Game 3: No. 5 Wichita State 5, No. 8 Tulsa 2
Box Score | Highlights | Recap
Game 4: No. 6 East Carolina 7, No. 10 Memphis 1
Box Score | Highlights | Recap
Thursday, May 8 | Quarterfinals
Game 5: No. 5 Wichita State vs No. 4 North Texas | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 6: No. 6 East Carolina vs No. 3 Charlotte | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Friday, May 9 | Semifinals
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs No. 1 Florida Atlantic | 1 p.m. | ESPNU
Game 8: Game 6 winner vs No. 2 South Florida | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Saturday, May 10 | Championship
Game 9: Game 7 winner vs Game 8 winner | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN2
*All game times Eastern and subject to change