Softball Travels To Hampton For Two Wednesday
April 06, 2010 | Softball
April 6, 2010
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - The East Carolina softball team takes a midweek break from Conference USA action Wednesday as it heads to Hampton (15-22) for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
After a three-game sweep of UCF (22-16, 7-4 C-USA) last weekend, the Pirates have won 12 of their past 13 games and moved ahead of the Knights for first place in the league.
Following Wednesday’s two contests, East Carolina has another key C-USA series as UAB (22-9, 6-3 C-USA) comes to Greenville for three games. The Blazers are one of three teams tied for second in the league. Action begins with a 1:00 p.m. Saturday doubleheader. The teams complete the series Sunday with a 12:00 p.m. contest.
Pirates Against The Lady Pirates ...
East Carolina has a 14-0 mark against Hampton in the all-time series, but the teams have not met since playing four times in 2000. ECU recorded 3-1 and 1-0 wins at home March 30 and 8-2 and 6-0 victories on the road April 19. In series history, the Pirates have outscored the Lady Pirates of Hampton 116-22.
Paisley Named Pitcher-of-the-Week ...
For the second-straight week and fourth time in the past six, junior Toni Paisley was named the Conference USA Pitcher-of-the-Week. She led East Carolina to a 5-0 week as she won all five games. Over the five contests, Paisley allowed only two earned runs in 28.1 innings, good for a 0.49 earned run average. She also struck out 37 batters and issued five walks.
Against UNC Greensboro Tuesday, Paisley gave up her only runs of the week as she surrendered a solo home run in each game of the doubleheader. In the three games at UCF, she surrendered just 11 hits and struck out 18 in two starts and a relief appearance. In Sunday’s finale, Paisley earned the 30th shutout and 69th victory of her career.
Seven And Counting ...
Paisley has won her past eight starts and 10 decisions as she has allowed only five earned runs over the 62.1 innings pitched, good for a 0.56 earned run average. She has also struck out 85 batters during the span.
Tom Finds Her Swing ...
Senior shortstop Kaui Tom had been struggling at the plate before the past 10 contests, batting .135 with seven hits and three runs batted in. Since then, she has turned it around, batting .333 with 10 hits, a team-best 12 runs batted in and a .700 slugging percentage. She has also hit three home runs in her past six games to bring her career total to 15, good for seventh in ECU history.
Sumner Moving Up The Leader Boards ...
Senior Charina Sumner hit her 17th career triple last Tuesday in game two at UNC Greensboro. She is now in sole possession of fourth on the East Carolina all-time list and is third in Conference USA history.
Sumner is also eighth in career hits at ECU with 207 and, after last weekend’s series at UCF, tied with Angela Manzo (1999-02) for sixth in runs scored with 127.
Four-Of-Seven And Three-Of-Five ...
During last Tuesday’s doubleheader at UNC Greensboro, the Pirates recorded four home runs. The long balls were hit by four of the team’s seven seniors as Sumner, Tom, Vanessa Moreno and Marina Gusman-Brown all went deep. Sumner, Tom and Gusman-Brown are also three of ECU’s five players from Hawai’i.
A Good One And Three Punch ...
Gusman-Brown and Sumner have hit either first or third in the lineup for the majority of the 2010 season. The duo has been extremely effective, combining for 67 hits, 43 runs scored, 35 RBI and 26 stolen bases. Those numbers account for more than 27 percent of the team’s total in each category.
Picking Up The Pace ...
After beginning the season with 1-4 and 2-7 records, East Carolina has found its groove recently, upping its overall mark to 20-12. In their past 13 games the Pirates have won 12, with the only loss being a 10-6 setback to Marshall.
