GREENVILLE, N.C. – Senior catcher Kim Mobley reached base twice to give the North Carolina Central University softball team its best chances at scoring in a 4-0 non-conference road loss at East Carolina University on Tuesday evening.
 
Senior pitcher Lydia Ritchie registered her fourth complete-game shutout to lead the Pirates to the victory. ECU improved to 20-23 overall after ending a three-game skid. NCCU fell to 8-26 after suffering its fourth straight loss.
 
Ritchie held the Lady Eagles to just three hits and she rang up seven NCCU batters on her way to the scoreless performance. Ritchie moved to 12-10 on the season.
 
The Lady Eagles were held hitless through four innings. After Mobley drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and moved to second on a sac bunt by sophomore Aleyah Evans, senior Brianna Hampton broke up the no-hitter with a single through the left side of the infield. However, Ritchie ended the threat that had NCCU runners on the corners with a strikeout.
 
Mobley later drilled a one-out double into the gap in right field after freshman Ava Dolan was hit by a pitch in the seventh, but a popup and a lineout ended the game with both runners stranded in scoring position.
 
Junior Lauren Sitterson had NCCU's other base knock with a two-out single in the sixth.
 
ECU put its first three batters on base in the bottom of the first to grab a quick 1-nil edge. The Pirates' advantage was doubled up in the third on a double by senior Ali Ramirez. A pair of solo home runs in the sixth off the bats of juniors Alex Mycek and Karlie Smith finished off the hosts scoring.
 
Senior Dominique Wilson tossed all six innings for the Lady Eagles, and she was tagged for four runs on seven hits while striking out five in slipping to 7-14.
 
NCCU next hosts Western Carolina University at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, North Carolina, on Tuesday, April 18 with the doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.