ECU Drops 1-0 Decision To No. 3 Georgia

Feb. 12, 2011

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ATHENS, Ga. - Junior Faith Sutton held No. 3 Georgia to four hits and struck out eight batters, but the Bulldogs scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to record a 1-0 victory over East Carolina Saturday afternoon at the Red & Black Showcase. The host Bulldogs (3-0) used three-straight hits to score the game's lone run. Freshman Kristi Oshiro led the Pirate offense with a pair of singles.

Sutton (0-2) allowed just one hit outside of the fourth inning and walked one in the complete-game effort. The eight strikeouts were three shy of her career high, set against UNC Wilmington. Georgia's Erin Arevalo (1-0) went the first six innings, allowing a pair of hits, two walks and hit two batters. She struck out 11. Alison Owen entered for the final frame and picked up the save.

Since the start of the 2009 season, ECU has dropped four 1-0 decisions to ranked teams.

Oshiro recorded her first collegiate hit with one out in the top of the first as she tallied an infield single. On a Suzanne Riggs strikeout, Oshiro stole second and advanced to third via a throwing error by catcher Ashley Razey. Sophomore Kai Clark struck out swinging to end the threat.

Georgia got its first base runner in the bottom of the second when Razey was hit by a pitch with one out. Sutton rebounded to strike out the next two Bulldog batters.

In the top of the fourth, ECU registered the next base runner of the contest as Riggs was hit by a pitch with one out. After a strikeout, Riggs stole second base. Senior Sissy Jimenez sent a hard shot up the middle, but Georgia shortstop Laura Trout stretched out, made the stop and retired Jimenez at first.

The bottom half of the inning had the Bulldogs break up the no-hit bid and score the game's only run. With one out, Alisa Goler singled up the middle and was replaced by pinch runner Maya Branch. Brianna Hesson followed with a single to center, putting runners on first and second. Razey delivered Branch with a single to right field for the 1-0 edge. Sutton struck out Jennie Auger for the second out. With Trout batting, Tiesha Reed, who was pinch running for Razey, took off for second base. Clark threw down to second, where Chelsea Kaluhiokalani-Glackin was covering. Hesson broke for home and Kaluhiokalani-Glackin fired back to Clark, who tagged out Hesson for the third out of the inning.

ECU had its best scoring chance in the top of the sixth but could not convert. Oshiro stroked her second hit of the game with a one-out shot through the legs of Goler at third base and into left field. Riggs followed with a walk to put runners on first and second. Clark struck out but Jimenez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Junior Priscilla Velasquez entered to pinch hit and smacked the first pitch she saw into center field. All-America Taylor Schlopy made a nice adjustment on the ball and made the catch to retire the Pirates.

Georgia had a two-out scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth as Goler drew a walk and Hesson singled to right field. Sutton retired Razey on a groundout to Kaluhiokalani-Glackin to end the threat.

The Pirates made a final bid for the win in the top of the seventh. Freshman Alex Fieldhouse opened the frame with an infield single. Trout dove and made the stop, but could not retire Fieldhouse at first. Freshman Abby Wynne entered to pinch run and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman pinch hitter Rebecca Lee. Fieldhouse was left stranded on the bag following a strikeout and groundout that ended the game.

East Carolina plays its final game of the weekend tomorrow at approximately 11:00 a.m. against Maryland.

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