Pirates Walk Off Winners Over Iowa

Feb. 12, 2011

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ATHENS, Ga. - After playing six-and-a-half innings of scoreless softball, East Carolina broke through with a run in the bottom of the seventh to walk away with a 1-0 victory over Iowa Saturday morning at the Red & Black Showcase. Junior Suzanne Riggs delivered the game-winning single that plated freshman Kristi Oshiro, who had reached on an error. It was Riggs' third career walk-off single and fourth game-winning hit in the last two seasons.

Senior Toni Paisley (2-0) went the distance for the Pirates, throwing her second-straight shutout and striking out 10. She allowed just one hit during the game. For the season, Paisley has allowed just three hits and a pair of walks while fanning 22. Chelsea Lyon (0-2) was saddled with the loss for the Hawkeyes after going six-and-a-third innings and scattering six hits and three walks. She also struck out seven.

Before Riggs' RBI in the seventh, the Pirates had four scoring opportunities, but left eight runners on base.

Neither team was able to register a base runner until the bottom of the second when Pirate sophomore Kai Clark hit a one-out double that just stayed inside the left-field line. She advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was left stranded following a strikeout by freshman Jordan Lewis and groundout by classmate Mahrisch Medina.

Iowa (1-2) recorded its only hit in the top of the fourth when Chelsea Carmody slapped a single to freshman Chelsea Kaluhiokalani-Glackin at shortstop, whose throw to first went high and rolled into right field. Carmody ended up on third after the error. Paisley got the Pirates out of the jam by striking out the next two batters to end the threat.

The Pirates had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fourth, but could not cash in. Riggs led off with single to right, but was thrown out at second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by senior Sissy Jimenez. With Jimenez on first, Clark singled and advanced to second on a fielding error by the center fielder. Jimenez went to third on the play and Lewis followed with a walk to load the bases. A foul out and groundout, however, ended the threat with the bases full.

ECU (2-1) missed another scoring chance in the top of the fifth when Kaluhiokalani-Glackin led off with a triple to right center, just out of the reach of the diving center fielder. Three-straight strikeouts ended the potential rally.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Pirates put runners on first and second with one out. Clark drew a walk and Lewis singled to center, but a pop out and groundout closed the inning.

East Carolina broke through in the bottom of the seventh with some help from the Hawkeyes. Oshiro reached on a fielding error by the pitcher and freshman Rebecca Lee followed with a single up the middle. Iowa then made a pitching change, bringing in Kayla Massey. Riggs greeted her with the game-winning hit that scored Oshiro from second.

After not recording a 1-0 victory since topping Boston College in eight innings at home Feb. 15, 2008, the Pirates have 10 such triumphs since April 14, 2010. ECU recorded a school-record eight 1-0 wins last season and its two wins this season are by 1-0 scores.

The Pirates continue today's action at approximately 1:00 p.m. against host and third-ranked Georgia.

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