East Carolina University
Memphis
Softball Earns Saturday Sweep Of Memphis
April 18, 2009 | Softball
April 18, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Timely hitting and solid pitching performances by Toni Paisley and Brooke Swann led East Carolina to a pair of victories over Memphis on Saturday afternoon. The Pirates (33-11, 16-4 C-USA) won the first game 2-0 and used a walk-off single from Sarah Bibee to take the second contest 2-1. ECU has now won its last five games against Memphis (20-24, 5-12 C-USA).
In the opener, Kaui Tom and Charina Sumner had RBI singles to drive in the Pirates' two runs. Paisley picked up her eighth solo shutout of the season in the win as she allowed just four hits and struck out seven. In the second game, Swann pitched five solid innings, surrendering just one run on six hits. Paisley, 25-6, came in for the final two innings and earned the victory.
Through the first four-and-a-half innings of the opener, Paisley and Memphis starter Janella Valle, 7-10, pitched around base runners and kept the game scoreless. Both teams put at least one runner on in each of the first four-and-a-half frames and combined to leave eight on base.
In the bottom of the fifth, East Carolina broke through and scored its only runs. Christina Merrida led off with a walk, moved to second on a groundout by Paisley and scored on Tom's line drive single that went just off the end of the third baseman's glove. Tom advanced to second on the throw to home and a groundout by Angel Barrella moved Tom to third base. Sumner followed with a single, driving in Tom for the 2-0 advantage.
Memphis went down in order in the sixth and seventh innings to preserve the Pirate victory.
In the second contest, Swann struck out the side in the top of the first and ECU had an opportunity to score in the bottom of the frame but could not convert. Barrella led off with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the right fielder. A wild pitch moved Barrella to third but a groundout, strikeout and fly out ended the threat.
The Tigers put a runner on second with no outs in the top of the third, but could not score. Brittany Gooch reached on a bunt single and then stole second base. Swann struck out Jessica Phillips and then Leandra Hines attempted to bunt, but was called out for touching the ball out of the batter's box. Leila Dolfo singled to left field and Gooch attempted to score on the hit but Marina Gusman-Brown threw her out at the plate to keep the game scoreless. It was Gusman-Brown's third outfield assist of the season.
In the bottom of the third, East Carolina had the scoring chance but did not push one across. Tiffany Shaw led off with an infield single and Barrella walked. A Sumner sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out. Jessica Johnson then drew her second walk of the afternoon to fill the bases with one out. Cristen Aona hit a deep fly to center field for the second out and Barrella was caught too far off second base on the play and was doubled off to end the inning.
Lelani Bernardino led off the Memphis half of the fourth with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a groundout by Tori Gross. Swann then retired Leigh Rowan on a groundout and Maddie McKinley on a foul pop that Aona dove and caught.
The Pirates had another chance to score in the bottom of the fourth but could not capitalize. Gusman-Brown led off and reached second after the shortstop threw the ball out of play. Bibee bunted Gusman-Brown over to third and Merrida followed with a ground ball to the pitcher. Gusman-Brown broke home on contact and was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Tom singled to right and Merrida advanced to third on the hit but Shaw popped out to the second baseman to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
In the bottom of the fifth East Carolina loaded the bases with two outs on singles by Johnson and Aona and Gusman-Brown being hit by a pitch. Bibee then struck out to end the threat.
After the defensive stop, Memphis broke the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth with a run as Dolfo led off with a double, moved to third on a single by Bernardino and scored on a single by Gross. After the Gross single, Paisley came in and struck out the next three hitters to end the threat.
ECU picked up its second walk-off win of the week when it scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Sumner started the rally with an infield single. Johnson then put down a bunt and the Memphis pitcher's throw pulled the second baseman off the bag, allowing Johnson to reach and advancing Sumner all the way to third. Jillian Gallagher came in as a pinch runner for Johnson and stole second base, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Aona popped out to the shortstop for the first out but Gusman-Brown singled to plate Sumner and tie the game. Bibee then stroked a single to right that drove in Gallagher for the winning run.
The Pirates will go for the series sweep tomorrow with a single game. The start time of the contest has been moved up and will now begin at 11:30 a.m.
