Pirates Topple Marshall In Series Finale

March 28, 2010

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GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina softball team used a strong offensive performance and another solid outing from junior pitcher Toni Paisley to defeat Marshall 10-0 in Sunday's series finale. Seniors Marina Gusman-Brown and Kaui Tom led the Pirates (15-12, 2-1 C-USA), combining for seven runs batted in, five hits, three runs scored and two home runs while freshman Kai Clark had one RBI and scored twice.

Paisley (10-7) picked up her third win of the week as she allowed just three hits and struck out four. It was the 65th win of her career, tying her with Jessica Rak of Louisville for seventh on the Conference USA all-time list. Katie Murphree (10-9) was saddled with the loss for Marshall as she pitched two-and-two-thirds innings, giving up five runs and four hits. She finished with six walks and no strikeouts. The trio of Caitlyn Jackson, Rachel Rillo and Jessica Ferrick threw the final one-and-a-third frames for the Thundering Herd (16-16, 2-7 C-USA), giving up seven hits and five runs.

ECU jumped on Murphree for a run in the bottom of the first inning. Gusman-Brown led off with a home run off the video platform in center field. It was her third long ball in the past four games as she leads the team with six this season.

The Pirates had a chance to add more runs in the bottom of the second, but could not convert. Freshman Cicely Lopez led off with a walk and was erased on a fielder's choice by Tom. It was Tom's only at-bat of the day in which she did not pick up a hit.

Following a pop-out by junior Sissy Jimenez, senior Cristen Aona singled up the middle. An illegal pitch by Murphree advanced Tom and Aona to second and third base. With first base open, Marshall chose to intentionally walk Gusman-Brown and load the bases with two down. Senior Christina Merrida then grounded out to Murphree.

In the bottom of the third, Clark and sophomore Priscilla Velasquez drew back-to-back walks with one out. Lopez flew out to left, but Tom came through with two outs, doubling to left field to drive in Clark for a 2-0 advantage. With Velasquez on third and Tom at second, Jimenez walked to load the bases. Marshall then made a pitching change, bringing in Jackson. She walked Aona to force in the game's third run. Gusman-Brown followed with a sharp single to left field, scoring Tom and Velasquez for a 5-0 ECU lead.

East Carolina put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs to take a 10-0 lead. Sumner led off with a triple to right field. It was the 16th triple of her career, tying her with Rhonda Rost (1994-97) for fourth on the ECU all-time list and with Houston's Jessica Valis (2006-09) and Louisville's Audrey Rendon (2004-05) for third on the C-USA leader board.

The Thundering Herd made another pitching change, bringing in Rillo. Clark doubled to right field, bringing in Sumner. Velasquez followed with a blooper that fell into right center, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Lopez kept the hit parade going, singling directly over third base, plating Clark and putting the Pirates up 7-0.

Tom then broke the game open with a three-run home run to right field. It was the 13th long ball of her career, moving her into a tie for seventh on the Pirates' all-time list. Marshall's Ferrick recorded the final three outs of the inning, allowing only a single to Gusman-Brown, who finished the day 3-3 at the plate.

In the Thundering Herd's final inning, Paisley gave up a leadoff single to Bri Anna Hope. One out later, Marcena Bertoldo lofted a single into left field, putting runners on first and second. Paisley rebounded to strike out pinch hitter Alysia Hively and induce a Alianna Telles fly-out to left field, ending the game.

The Pirates return to action Tuesday with a nonconference doubleheader at UNC Greensboro (13-15). First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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