Pirates Set To Open ECU Softball Stadium
February 15, 2011 | Softball
Feb. 15, 2011
| East Carolina Game 6: UNC Wilmington | |
| Date | Wednesday, Feb. 16 |
| Time | 4:00 p.m. ET |
| Location | Greenville, N.C. (ECU Softball Stadium) |
| Tickets | Ticket Central |
| Game Notes | East Carolina  | UNC Wilmington |
| Statistics | East Carolina | UNC Wilmington |
| Internet Coverage | Gametracker |  Watch Live Live Chat |
| Mobile Connect | Live Chat for Mobile Devices |
| Pirate Softball Central |
Gameday Central | Roster |
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Following 26 years of competition at the ECU Softball Field, the Pirates will open their new facility, the ECU Softball Stadium, Wednesday against in-state rival UNC Wilmington (0-4). First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
The pregame ceremony is set to begin at 3:45 Wednesday afternoon. Chancellor Steve Ballard, Director of Athletics Terry Holland and Senior Women's Administrator Rosie Thompson will all be on hand for the grand opening. East Carolina Student Government Association Vice President Josh Martinkovic and ECU head coach Tracey Kee are scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitches.
Last weekend at the Red & Black Showcase, ECU went 2-3. The Pirates claimed 1-0 triumphs over Lipscomb and Iowa, but fell to Illinois State, host and No. 3 Georgia and Maryland. Senior Toni Paisley threw two shutouts and struck out 35 over the weekend while junior Suzanne Riggs drove in the game-winning run versus Iowa in the bottom of the seventh and hit .308 for the tournament.
The Pirates Against The Seahawks
In UNC Wilmington, East Carolina faces a very familiar foe as the teams have played each other 88 times, the most the Pirates have seen of any opponent in program history. ECU holds a 75-13 advantage in the all-time series with the teams playing each other at least once a year since 1985. The Pirates have won the last 11 meetings while outscoring the Seahawks 81-13. ECU has not dropped a home game to UNCW since April 29, 2003.
In the first contest, Paisley struck out seven and allowed only a single to Brianne Lofton in the top of the sixth. For the offense, Kaui Tom scored the game-winning run on an RBI single from Nicole Jordan and Cristen Aona drove in a pair with a fifth-inning double. In game two, Marina Gusman-Brown drove in three runs and scored twice while Kai Clark had two hits in support of Faith Sutton's two-hit complete game. Sutton also struck out a career-high 11 batters in the contest.
East Carolina Set To Open New Stadium
After 26 years, East Carolina is moving into a new home. The ECU Softball Stadium, an approximately $4 million facility with a design that complements the Pirate baseball program's nearby Clark-LeClair Stadium, will open its gates Wednesday afternoon.
The stadium has a seating capacity of 1,000, meeting the requirement to host an NCAA Regional. It has 200 chairback seats. Right-center field features a state-of-the-art video board and scoreboard. Beyond the wall from left to left-center field are flagpoles displaying flags representing the eight other C-USA softball institutions. Amenities for those in attendance include a concession stand and ample rest room facilities. Also included as part of the facility are three covered batting cages outside right field that allow ECU to hit during all weather conditions.
Dominate The State
The Pirates will be looking to continue their recent success against teams from North Carolina Wednesday as they have won the last 14 contests against in-state foes. East Carolina defeated UNC Greensboro twice and Campbell once near the end of 2009 and went 11-0, outscoring Campbell, N.C. Central, UNC Greensboro, N.C. State, UNC Wilmington and Elon 71-7, last season.
Paisley Climbs The Wins Charts
With last weekend's two shutout victories over Lipscomb and Iowa, Paisley reached 88 career wins. She is tied with former coach and 2007 teammate Keli Harrell for third on the East Carolina and Conference USA career wins lists.
Paisley, Harrell, Houston's Angel Shamblin (2005-08/94) and DePaul's Lindsay Chouinard (2000-03/108) are the only hurlers in league history to total 80 or more victories. Ahead of Paisley on the ECU wins list are Denise Reagan (1997-2000/92) and Jenny Parsons (1990-93/102).
Paisley Closing In On Strikeout Mark
In addition to recording a pair of victories, Paisley also tallied 35 strikeouts last weekend. Paisley's career total is now 929, just 19 behind Harrell for the all-time program and Conference USA record. Paisley and Harrell are the only pitchers in league history with 900 or more whiffs.
In the opening contest against Lipscomb, a fifth-inning strikeout of Haley Elliott was Paisley's 900th career K. The Lakewood, Calif., native now has 39 career games with 10 or more strikeouts.
A Different Defense
With the loss of six senior starters from last season's squad that led the nation in fielding percentage, the ECU infield and outfield units were going to have a different look this season. After committing five errors, all by freshmen, through the first two games, the Pirates settled down and had just one the rest of the weekend and none in the final two contests. The numbers are actually very similar to last season, when ECU had five errors through its first five games.
Production At The Top
Pirate batters have excelled when leading off an inning. In 35 opportunities to start a frame, East Carolina hitters have reached base 12 times (34.3% success rate). Freshman Rebecca Lee has reached in both of her opportunities, classmate Alex Fieldhouse has gotten on in two of her three chances and Riggs has reached three of her five times starting an inning.
On the other hand, the ECU pitching staff has held opponents to a 15.2 percent success rate when leading off a frame (5-33).
Two Outs? No Problem
Junior Priscilla Velasquez has posted a team-best .400 batting average with two outs.
