ECU Goes For Series Sunday
March 27, 2011 | Softball
March 27, 2011
| East Carolina Game 35: Tulsa | |
| Date | Sunday, March 27 |
| Time | 11:00 a.m. ET |
| Location | Greenville, N.C. (ECU Softball Stadium) |
| Game Notes | East Carolina  |
| Statistics | East Carolina | Tulsa |
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina and Tulsa played to a Saturday split as the Pirates took game one 1-0 in 10 innings before falling 5-3 in the second contest. ECU (24-10, 4-4 C-USA) goes for the series victory against the Golden Hurricane (24-8, 7-1 C-USA) Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
One Big Blast
In the top of the eighth inning with the game tied 1-1 during the second game of last Saturday's doubleheader at Marshall, freshman Alex Fieldhouse entered as a leadoff pinch hitter. After taking the first pitch for a ball, Fieldhouse sent the second one over the wall in left center to put East Carolina ahead 2-1. The Pirates went on to claim a 3-2 victory.
It was only Fieldhouse's fourth pinch-hit appearance of the season. In her other three times at the plate, she drew a walk at No. 3 Georgia Feb. 12, picked up another free pass March 9 during the second game at Maryland and lined into a double play March 13 versus Memphis.
Strikeout Tally Already Impressive
Through her first 151.1 innings pitched this season, senior Toni Paisley has struck out 203 batters. The total already is good for eighth place on the East Carolina single-season record list.
A year ago, Paisley set the category mark with 356 whiffs. She averaged 1.29 strikeouts per inning in 2010 and is at 1.34 Ks per frame so far this season.
Jimenez Gets Offensive
Senior Sissy Jimenez has saved her best offense for her senior season. A year ago, Jimenez had a .186 batting average through the first 34 games. She had played in 30 contests and made 24 starts to that point. So far in 2011 through 34 games, Jimenez has a .264 batting average, played in 33 games and made 23 starts.
Captain Clutch
Junior Suzanne Riggs has delivered five game-winning runs this season and had four in 2010. She has been at her best with two outs and runners on base, batting a team-high .346 and pacing the squad with eight runs driving in facing that situation this year. Last season, she hit .308 and had six RBI with two down and runners on base.
A Seven-Run Outburst
In the top of the sixth inning of last Saturday's opener at Marshall, East Carolina broke a 3-1 game open with seven runs in the frame. Prior to that, the Pirates' highest-scoring half inning this season was the top of the fifth against Fairfield Feb. 26, when ECU pushed across five.
East Carolina had not scored seven or more runs in a frame since totaling 10 in the top of the fifth at Hampton April 7, 2010.
A Virtual Lock With Three
When East Carolina scores three or more runs this season, the team is 19-2. The lone losses were a 6-5 setback in nine innings Feb. 18 versus St. John's and Saturday's second game against Tulsa.
Three runs and a win is nothing new for the Pirates as they are 198-39, good for a .835 winning percentage, since the start of the 2005 season when scoring three or more times.
Balls In Play Lead To Hits
East Carolina has struck out 201 times this season but has still posted a .265 team batting average. When looking at the Pirates' average on just balls put in play (excluding strikeouts and home runs), the squad's mark rises to .336. On the other hand, opponents are hitting a cumulative .183 with a .263 average on balls in play.
Three Is Greater Than Four?
East Carolina has hit 10 triples this season, second among the Conference USA teams. The Pirates are also the only team in the league to have tallied more three-base hits than home runs (9).
