Pirates Head West To Houston
April 23, 2010 | Softball
April 23, 2010
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina softball team brings an eight-game winning streak, including four-straight league victories, into this weekend’s series at Conference USA foe Houston (24-21, 8-9 C-USA). The teams play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. and complete the series with a 1:00 p.m. Sunday contest. The Pirates are alone in first in the conference while the Cougars are in sixth.
Pirates Against The Cougars ...
Houston owns a 17-10 advantage in the all-time series with a 9-1 mark at home. The 17 losses represent the most East Carolina has suffered against any Conference USA squad. The Pirates, however, have won two of the past three games after dropping six straight and 10 of 11 to the Cougars. ECU’s one triumph in Houston was a 6-5 eight-inning victory March 11, 2006.
Last season in Greenville, the Pirates won the opener 6-2 before falling 3-1 in the second contest. In game one, with the score tied 2-2, East Carolina pushed across four runs in the bottom of the sixth with a bases-loaded walk, a sacrifice fly and a two-run double by Sarah Bibee. The Pirates had a 1-0 lead in the second contest, but could not hold on as the Cougars scored three runs in the top of the fifth. ECU rebounded to win the Sunday series finale 5-2 as Marina Gusman-Brown drove in the game-winning run with a two-out double to left field in a five-run fifth inning.
It’s Good To Be V ...
After batting .172 and collecting 15 hits through her first 32 games this season, senior Vanessa Moreno seems to have found her swing in the past five contests as she is leading the Pirates with a .500 batting average over that span. She has a squad-high five hits and two runs scored as well as a robust .900 slugging percentage.
An Offensive Spark ...
During the Pirates’ current eight-game winning streak, junior Sissy Jimenez has been the main offensive power source. She leads the team batting .364 over the past eight games as she has collected eight hits, including the first two home runs of her career. She also has team-high marks in runs scored with four, runs batted in with four and slugging percentage at .773.
One Solid Month ...
Since April started, senior Charina Sumner has certainly contributed heavily to the offense, leading the Pirates in batting average (.327) and hits (16). She also has 10 runs batted in this month while no other Pirate has reached double digits.
Leading The Country ...
With the release of the NCAA statistics through April 18 games, East Carolina is ranked first in the nation with a .981 fielding percentage. For the past three seasons, the Pirates have not finished lower than third in the country in fielding percentage (second in 2007, .977; third in 2008, .980; third in 2009, .978).
Road Warriors ...
East Carolina has played 29 contests away from Greenville this season, going 18-11. In true away games, the Pirates have excelled, posting a 13-5 mark. ECU is undefeated in its past 12 true road matchups and is 14-0 away from home since March 13.
