East Carolina University
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
UTEP
Pirates Complete Sweep Of UTEP
April 11, 2009 | Softball
April 11, 2009
EL PASO, TEXAS - Another two-run home run from Cristen Aona and two more hits from Angel Barrella led East Carolina (29-11, 14-4 C-USA) to an 8-0 win over UTEP (21-22, 6-9 C-USA) on Saturday afternoon. Toni Paisley, 21-6, blanked the Miners for the second time in as many starts and collected the 20th shutout of her career, the fifth most in school history.
For the Pirates, the 14 Conference USA victories are the second-most in program history, just three behind the 2005 squad's 17. The three victories over the Miners also gives ECU three league sweeps, tying the 2005 and 2006 teams for the most since joining C-USA.
The Pirates wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, pushing across two runs in the top of the first. Barrella and Charina Sumner opened the game with back-to-back singles. A fielder's choice by Jessica Johnson allowed her to reach first and advanced Barrella to third, but forced out Sumner at second. With Aona at bat, Barrella broke home on a passed ball but was tagged out by the catcher for the second out. Aona came through with the two outs, sending a two-run home run to center field that plated Johnson and gave ECU the 2-0 lead. The two runs batted in gave Aona three consecutive multiple-RBI games.
In the top of the third, East Carolina tacked on two more runs for a 4-0 advantage. Tiffany Shaw led off by reaching on an error and scored on Barrella's team-leading fourth triple of the season. Sumner then drove in Barrella with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Pirates had another scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs on a Christina Merrida single and back-to-back walks to Shaw and Barrella. Sumner then grounded into a fielder's choice that forced out Barrella to end the threat.
In the bottom of the frame, UTEP loaded the bases with two outs but failed to score. With one out, Chelsea Troupe was hit by a pitch and Jennifer Davis singled for the Miners' first hit. Amber Bennett popped up to Paisley for the second out but Kristin Lusby singled to fill the bases. Paisley then struck out pinch hitter Jennifer Stalter to end the threat.
Three straight walks to begin the top of the fifth loaded the bases and helped the Pirates score three more runs. Johnson, Aona and Paisley all drew free passes and Sarah Bibee singled to drive in two. Merrida then singled to reload the bases, still with no outs. Following a fielder's choice, Shaw provided the final run of the inning on a ground out that drove in Bibee and made the score 7-0.
The Miners again tried to rally in the bottom of the fifth but could not push across a run. Becky Smith and Camilla Carrera hit back-to-back one-out singles but consecutive strikeouts ended the inning.
In the top of the sixth the Pirates added their final run. Johnson led off with her third walk of the contest and Jillian Gallagher pinch ran for her. Gallagher stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Aona then drove in her third run of the game with a single down the right field line.
UTEP got a single from Davis to start the sixth but three outs followed, ending the game due to ECU's eight run lead.
East Carolina will look to extend its winning streak to four games on Wednesday when it hosts rival N.C. State for a single game starting at 5 p.m. Earlier this season in Raleigh, the Pirates scored five runs in the 10th inning to defeat the Wolfpack 5-0.
