East Carolina University
Campbell
Softball Tops Campbell, Falls To Virginia Tech
May 02, 2009 | Softball
May 2, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. – On its final Saturday of regular season play, the East Carolina softball team defeated Campbell 5-2 and fell to Virginia Tech 6-0. Kaui Tom hit a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth against Campbell (34-14) to give the Pirates (39-14) the victory. Virginia Tech (27-26) scored three runs in the first inning, two more in the third and one in the seventh to gain the shutout win.
Against Campbell, Toni Paisley, 29-8, and Brittany Stanley, 15-4, matched zeros through the first five innings, combining to allow just six hits and strike out 12. For the game, Paisley finished with 11 strikeouts and scattered four hits while Stanley surrendered eight hits and struck out three.
Brooke Swann, 8-2, suffered the loss against Virginia Tech, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits in two-and-a-third innings of work. It was her first loss since Feb. 8 against Virginia. Caitlin Wainright came in for Swann and pitched a solid four-and-two-thirds innings, giving up just three hits and one run. Abbie Rexrode, 5-8, picked up the win and earned her second shutout of the season as she surrendered six hits and struck out three.
In the Campbell game, neither team mounted a scoring threat until East Carolina loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth when Paisley singled, Angel Barrella walked and Sissy Jimenez reached on an error. Jessica Johnson came up and hit a fly ball to the warning track in left field that was caught to retire the side.
In the top of the sixth, the Camels took a 1-0 lead as Katie Hinton doubled in Lizzie Goldbach.
The Pirates got the run back in the bottom of the frame. Cristen Aona led off by reaching on an error and Marina Gusman-Brown walked. Sarah Bibee moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt and Aona scored on a groundout by Christina Merrida.
Neither team was able to push one across in the seventh and the tie-breaker rules were in place to start the eighth inning. Campbell sent pinch runner Katie Woodcock to second base and Paisley retired the first two batters on pop outs before Hinton doubled again to drive in Woodcock. It was just the second run ECU had given up in extra innings this season.
In the bottom of the eighth, Aona was placed on second and Gusman-Brown laid down a bunt that she beat out for a single, putting runners on first and third with no outs. Jillian Gallagher came in to pinch run for Aona and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bibee. After Gusman-Brown was out on a fielder’s choice, Paisley singled through the left side and Tom followed with her three-run walk-off homer.
In the nightcap, Virginia Tech got out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Jenna Rhodes singled, stole second and scored on a single to right field by Erin Ota. An error brought in Ota and made it a 2-0 advantage. The Hokies added their final run of the inning on a single by Kristen Graham that drove in Jessica Everhart, who had also singled.
The Pirates mounted a scoring threat in the bottom of the second as Gusman-Brown singled to lead off, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bibee and to third on a single by Merrida. After Merrida stole second to put runners on second and third with one out, two strikeouts followed to end the frame.
In the top of the third, the Hokies added two more runs to take a 5-0 lead. Charissa Mariconda and Everhart hit consecutive singles to start the inning and Beth Walker drove in Mariconda with a double down the left field line. A single to right by Kristin Graham plated Everhart for a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Aona led off with her second single of the contest and Merrida also collected her second single with two outs. A groundout by Tom ended the inning and kept the Pirates off the board.
Virginia Tech added its final run for a 6-0 advantage in the top of the seventh. Mariconda led off with a triple and stole home when Pirate catcher Tiffany Shaw threw to second base trying to catch Everhart stealing.
ECU went down in order in the seventh to preserve the Hokie shutout.
The Pirates close the regular season tomorrow against Virginia Tech at 12 p.m. for Senior Day.
