East Carolina University
Kent State
Kee Picks Up Career Win 500, Softball Victorious Twice
February 09, 2008 | Softball
Feb. 9, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Head coach Tracey Kee picked up her 500th career win on Saturday as the East Carolina softball team took a pair of contests at the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill. The Pirates improve their mark to 3-1 on the early season. They took out preseason Mid-American Conference favorite Kent State 2-1 in Saturday's first game before returning to defeat George Washington 6-1 in the final contest of the day.
ECU looked as if it would take the early lead in the first when Charina Sumner led off the game with a double and Christina Merrida singled in the infield. However, with one out, Cristen Aona struck out and Erin St. Ledger grounded out to third to end the threat.
After Pirate hurler Toni Paisley kept Kent State off the board through the first two innings, East Carolina struck for their first run of the contest in the top of the third. Stacey Andrews was hit by a pitch to start the inning then proceeded to steal second. Sumner then recorded her second double of the game, scoring Andrews to push the Pirates on top 1-0.
ECU added another run in the sixth. With one out, Aona doubled to extend her season-opening hitting streak to three games. Sarah Bibee was then summoned to pinch run for Aona and scored on a two-out single by Vanessa Moreno.
The Golden Flashes drew within a run in their half of the sixth as Kim Hamilton took Paisley's offering over the left center field fence to leadoff the half-inning. The Pirates were then set down in order in the top of the seventh, setting up a dramatic ending to the contest.
Ashlee Hein reached first on a leadoff walk then advanced to second on a single by pinch hitter Lauren Brocklehurst. With both runners at second and third with two outs, Hamilton was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, Kaui Tom was able to snag a ball off the bat of Jessica Carmichael and step on second to end the contest.
Paisley threw her second complete game in as many days and improved her record to 1-1. She scattered five hits while giving up the lone earned run. The sophomore now has 231 strikeouts, moving her into seventh on the East Carolina career chart. Paisley needs just 17 to catch Nicole Bacon for sixth.
The Pirates nearly scored first in their game with George Washington when in the bottom of the second, St. Ledger singled through the right side and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a single by Sissy Jimenez. However, she was stranded when Tom and Andrews both flew out.
The Colonials jumped on top in the top of the third inning. With one out, Amanda Gabriel sent a 1-1 offering over the left center field wall, giving George Washington the 1-0 advantage. However, ECU would strike back in their half of the third.
On a 0-1 pitch, Sumner left no doubt as to where the ball was headed as it easily cleared the wall in right center, knotting the score at one. Christina Merrida then drew a walk before Jessica Johnson smashed her first home run of the year, scoring Merrida and providing the Pirates with a 3-1 lead. With one out, East Carolina was not done as St. Ledger hit her second single of the contest. Moreno then ripped the Pirates' third long ball of the inning, pushing the advantage to 5-1. ECU added one more run to close out the scoring in the sixth when Jimenez scored after producing a one-out double.
Brooke Swann picked up her first victory of the season to move to 1-0 as well as throwing her first complete game since Feb 23, 2007. She allowed eight George Washington hits while giving up just one earned run. The Callao, Va. native struck out nine, just one shy of her career-high. St. Ledger was a perfect 3-for-3 in the contest.
The Pirates wrap up play in the Carolina Classic tomorrow as the No. 2 seed. They will face off against the No. 3 seed Kent State at 10 a.m. for the right to move into the championship contest versus North Carolina.
