East Carolina University
Maryland
Pirates Fall To Maryland 3-1
February 13, 2011 | Softball
Feb. 13, 2011
Maryland Box Score | Maryland Box Score in PDF Format 
Live Chat Replay
Photo Gallery
ATHENS, Ga. - East Carolina took a 1-0 lead over Maryland, but the Terrapins scored three unanswered runs to down the Pirates 3-1 at the Red & Black Showcase Sunday afternoon. It was the first game this season for ECU in which both teams scored a run. Junior Suzanne Riggs stole home to account for the Pirates' run.
Senior Toni Paisley (2-1) surrendered her first runs of the season when the Terrapins scored three times in the bottom of the fourth. Paisley struck out 13 and allowed just five hits, with four coming in the bottom of the fourth. The first nine Maryland outs of the game were strikeouts by Paisley.
For the Terrapins (2-2), Kerry Hickey threw the first four-and-a-third innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out six. She picked up the victory to even her record at 1-1. Ashley Czechner went the final two-and-two-thirds innings and earned her first save of the season. She allowed only one hit and fanned four.
Neither team was able to record a base runner until the bottom of the second when Hickey doubled off the base of the wall in dead center field with one out. Paisley bounced back to strike out Sloane Van Meter and Nikki Maier to end the threat.
East Carolina (2-3) tallied its first hit of the game in the top of the third when freshman Alex Fieldhouse led off with an infield single. After two outs, a fielding error by the shortstop allowed freshman Jordan Lewis to reach first and moved Fieldhouse to second. A fly out to right field by freshman Kristi Oshiro closed the half inning.
In the bottom of the third, Maryland put its leadoff batter on as Bree Hanafin worked a walk, but she was left on the bag as Paisley struck out the next three batters.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth with a two-out steal of home. Riggs started the frame with a walk. After a pop out and strikeout, junior Priscilla Velasquez singled to right center, advancing Riggs to third. With Fieldhouse at bat, Velasquez took off for second. The Maryland catcher threw down and Riggs broke for home, sliding in under the tag.
Maryland answered with all its runs in the bottom of the fourth. Candice Beards led off with a double to the gap in left center and was lifted for pinch runner Amanda McCann. Lexi Carroll drove in McCann with a single to center field. Freshman Mahrisch Medina made a strong throw to the plate, but it was just late. Hickey was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt by Van Meter advanced the runners to second and third with one down. Maier then drove in the pair with a double to center field. Following a single to center field by Hanafin, the Pirates escaped further damage with a caught stealing and strikeout.
East Carolina made a final push in the seventh inning as freshman pinch hitter Abby Wynne singled with two outs. It was Wynne's first collegiate hit. Czechner struck out freshman pinch hitter Rebecca Lee to end the contest.
The Pirates now return home for 11-straight games and the opening of the new ECU Softball Stadium. East Carolina faces in-state rival UNC Wilmington at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday to christen the facility.
