Pirates Sweep Southern Miss In Doubleheader
March 15, 2008 | Softball
March 15, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina softball team earned two wins on Saturday at the ECU Softball Field as it defeated Southern Miss 3-2 and 11-6. The Pirates improve to 21-9 on the season and 4-1 in C-USA with the sweep while the Golden Eagles fall to 13-14 overall and 1-4 in conference play. Junior Brooke Swann picked up both victories in the circle for ECU.
Southern Miss put two runners on with one out in the top of the first. However, Swann struck out Jennifer Fox and Brandi Alonzo was tagged out in a rundown to end the half-inning. The Golden Eagles threatened again the top of the fourth. With one out, Kristin Pilgrim singled up the middle then Jennifer Fox knocked a base hit of her own. After Lauren Castellvi loaded the bases via a walk, all runners were stranded as Swann induced a fly out and a strikeout.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Vanessa Moreno led off the half-inning by ripping a double to center. After Kaui Tom grounded out and Angel Barrella popped up, Charina Sumner singled and advanced to second as Moreno slid in to home plate safely. East Carolina added one more run in the sixth when with two outs, Cristen Aona singled to score Sarah Bibee, who had run for Jessica Johnson. Johnson singled to lead off the half-inning.
Southern Miss rallied in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs to tie the game. With one out, Meagan Hill slapped a double, scoring Ashley Bullard and Brittany Pigot. Hill would reach third but Kristin Pilgrim grounded out to second to end the threat, leaving the score knotted at two.
Barrella singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and advanced to second on an error by the left fielder. Then, Tom reached first on a bunt single while Barrella advanced to third. After Sumner grounded out to third, freshman and pinch hitter Sissy Jimenez came through, looping a single over the first baseman's head to score Barrella, giving the Pirates the 3-2 victory.
Swann pitched her 13th complete game of the year, running her record to 11-7. She allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out five. A quartet of ECU hitters registered two hits on the contest, as Sumner, Johnson, Aona and Barrella combined to go 8-for-13 with two RBI and a run scored.
The Pirates tagged the Golden Eagles for five runs in the bottom of the first in the second contest. After St. Ledger walked, loading the bases, Andrews laced a single through the left side that scored Christina Merrida. Then, with two outs, Moreno stepped up and smashed her second double of the game, clearing the bases and making the score 4-0. The next batter, Barrella, notched a single of her own that scored Moreno to extend the ECU lead to 5-0.
Over the next three innings, Southern Miss responded, tying the game at five on seven hits off of Britt Howell and Suzanne Riggs.
With new pitchers in the game for each team, the Pirates took advantage. In the bottom of the fourth, with two outs and St. Ledger and Bibee at first and third, Aona took a pitch and drove it easily over the left center field wall for a three-run home run, making the score 8-5 in favor of East Carolina. The Pirates added three more runs on two hits in the fifth to put the game away. The Golden Eagles scored one in the sixth but that would finish the scoring.
Swann tallied her second win of the day in relief, throwing the last three and one-thirds innings to move her record to 12-7. The junior gave up one run on four hits while striking out four. Five East Carolina batters recorded two or more hits in the contest, led by Aona who went 3-for-4 with one run and five RBI. The five RBI ties a career-high for the sophomore.
The Pirates return to the ECU Softball Field tomorrow as they close the series with Southern Miss with a single game. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
