East Carolina University
Tulsa
Pirates Fall To Tulsa In Series Finale
April 05, 2009 | Softball
April 5, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Tulsa’s Lauren Menke hit a two-run home run with one out in the top of sixth inning to provide the Golden Hurricane with its only runs in a 2-1 victory over East Carolina. Jessica Johnson hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh for the Pirates’ only run. The loss dropped the Pirates to 26-10 and 11-4 in Conference USA and improved Tulsa to 22-13 with a 7-4 mark in league play. The defeat also snapped ECU’s program-best Conference USA winning streak at eight games.
Jordan Kinard, Tulsa’s starting pitcher, limited the Pirates to just two hits and struck out six during the game. East Carolina’s starting pitcher, Toni Paisley, suffered the loss and dropped to 19-5. It was Paisley’s first loss since March 15 at Southern Miss.
The first five innings proved to be a pitchers' duel as Tulsa put just two runners on and East Carolina only one. The Golden Hurricane got hits from Lauren Lindsay, who led off the game with a single to center field, and Brooke Smart, who began the fifth with a single up the middle. Charina Sumner started the ECU half of the fourth with a single to left field.
In the top of the sixth, Lindsay tallied her second hit of the game with a line drive that tipped off the top of Kaui Tom's glove and into left field for a one-out single. Menke then hit her home run to left field to provide Tulsa with its two runs.
East Carolina attempted to rally in the bottom of the sixth, but could not push a run across. Sissy Jimenez pinch hit for Tom and reached on an error by the Tulsa second baseman to start the inning. Three straight outs ended the threat and kept the score 2-0 in favor or Tulsa.
In the bottom of the seventh Johnson’s long ball was the only hit of the inning.
The Pirates' next contest will be hosting in-state rival No. 15 North Carolina on Wednesday for a single contest starting at 4 p.m.
