East Carolina University
Maryland
Pirates Split With Terrapins
March 09, 2011 | Softball
March 9, 2011
Maryland Game
1 Box Score | Maryland Game 1 Box Score in PDF Format 
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - East Carolina continued to prepare for the opening of Conference USA action this weekend by splitting a doubleheader at Maryland Wednesday evening. The Pirates used a two-run seventh inning in game one to top Maryland 3-2 before falling to the Terrapins 4-2 in the nightcap. In game one, ECU (17-6) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth, only to see Maryland (9-8) score twice in the bottom of the frame. The Pirates answered again with two runs in the top of the seventh as freshman Jordan Lewis drove in the tying run and scored the game-winner on a wild pitch. The nightcap had the Terrapins' Marisha Branson hit a two-run home run and hold on for the victory.
In the opener, senior Toni Paisley (12-3) threw a complete game, scattering seven hits and striking out eight. She allowed both Terrapins runs, one earned, and one walk. Maryland's Kerry Hickey (3-4) matched Paisley nearly pitch for pitch, striking out 14 in seven innings. She surrendered all three runs, but only one was earned, and seven hits. She also issued a trio of walks.
The nightcap brought an end to junior Faith Sutton's five-game winning streak as she allowed four runs on seven hits and a pair of walks. Sutton (5-3) fanned three in her six innings of work and retired nine of the final 11 batters she faced. Maryland's Ashley Czechner (4-1) held the Pirates in check, surrendering six hits and striking out four in six-and-two-thirds innings. She gave up two runs and four walks. She sent down nine-straight ECU batters during the third through sixth innings. Hickey came in and recorded the final out of the game to earn the save, her first of the season.
In the opener, ECU freshman Kristi Oshiro led off the game with a walk. It was Oshiro's seventh-straight time reaching when starting an inning and sixth consecutive game reaching when leading off a contest. After a strikeout, junior Suzanne Riggs singled past the third baseman to put runners on first and second with one out. The threat was ended, however, by a pair of strikeouts.
The Pirates had another chance to score in the top of the second but could not convert. Senior Sissy Jimenez started the frame reaching on a fielding error by the shortstop. Freshman Alex Fieldhouse then laid down a bunt that the third baseman fielded, threw to second and forced out Jimenez. Fieldhouse moved to second on a single by freshman Jill Jelnick, but both were left stranded after two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the third, the Terrapins had runners on second and third with one out, but the Pirate defense buckled down and kept Maryland off the board. Sara Acosta singled to right field with one down and Vangie Galindo followed with a bunt she beat out for a hit. ECU freshman catcher Rebecca Lee's throw to first went wide, allowing Acosta to move to third. Galindo stole second, but Bree Hanafin struck out looking and Hickey popped out to Jelnick at second base to keep the game scoreless.
Both teams were retired in order in the fourth before the Pirates loaded the bases in the top of the fifth. Jelnick led off reaching on an error by the third baseman. After a strikeout, Oshiro bunted for a single that moved Jelnick to second. With runners on first and second and one out, Lee sent a grounder to the shortstop, who booted the ball, loading the bases. Hickey again got out of trouble by striking out the next two batters.
ECU broke through in the top of the sixth to take a 1-0 lead. With one out, Jimenez doubled down the right-field line and was replaced by pinch runner Abby Wynne. Fieldhouse fouled out to the third baseman, but Jelnick reached on another fielding error by the shortstop to put runners on first and second with two down. Freshman Mahrisch Medina entered to pinch hit and singled past the outstretched glove of first baseman Candice Beards and over the bag to drive in Wynne. It was the first RBI of Medina's career.
Maryland answered right back in the bottom of the inning and took a 2-1. Galindo led off with a single and scored when Hanafin laid down a bunt and Lee's throw to first bounced off Hanafin's helmet and into right field. Hanafin ended up on second on the throwing error. A foul out to left moved Hanafin to third and she came home on a double to left by Branson. Paisley avoided further damage by retiring the next two Terrapin batters on a sacrifice bunt and pop out.
The Pirates immediately had the answer, scoring twice in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead. Lee led off with a triple to left center and came home on a one-out single through the left side by Lewis, who had struck out in her three previous at-bats. Sophomore Cicely Lopez followed with a chopper back to Hickey that she could not handle. The error allowed Lewis to move to second and put Lopez on first. A walk to Jimenez filled the bases with one out. Hickey struck out Fieldhouse, but uncorked a wild pitch during Jelnick's at-bat that brought in Lewis for the game-winning run. Jelnick walked to reload the bases, but a strikeout ended the threat.
During the bottom of the inning Maryland did not go down easily, but was held off the board. Beards singled to lead off the frame and was replaced by pinch runner Amanda McCann. Paisley struck out Lauren Ghent before Acosta sent a grounder to Fieldhouse at third. Fieldhouse tried to force out McCann at second, but she beat the throw, leaving runners on first and second with one down. Paisley again bounced back, striking out Galindo and getting Hanafin to foul out to end the contest. Entering the contest, ECU was just 3-69 since the start of the 2007 season when trailing after six innings.
In the nightcap, Maryland's initial two batters in the bottom of the first reached on infield singles, but the Terrapins did not score. Acosta singled under Sutton's glove and Galindo dropped down a bunt single. A sacrifice bunt by Hanafin moved both runners up a base before Lexi Carroll struck out swinging and Branson grounded out to Jelnick at second.
After retiring the Pirates in order, UM took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Beards led off with a walk and advanced to second on a single to left center by Kathy McLaughlin. Another sacrifice bunt, this one by Samantha Mallory, moved the runners to second and third with one out. McCann rolled a grounder to Oshiro at shortstop that she beat out for a single with Beards coming home and McLaughlin moving to third. McCann then stole second and McLaughlin swiped home as sophomore catcher Kai Clark's throw to second sailed into center field. McCann tried to take third on the play, but was thrown out by center fielder Medina. A groundout by Acosta ended the threat.
Maryland made it a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Branson hit a two-out, two-run homer to right center.
Both teams went quietly until the top of the sixth when the Pirates cut the deficit to 4-1. Jelnick reached on a one-out double to left and came home on a Lee double to right center. Oshiro followed with a hard shot up the middle, but it hit Lee's foot for the second out of the frame. Jimenez drew a walk to put runners on first and second before a Lewis strikeout closed the frame.
The Pirates again battled in the seventh inning, but could not pull off the comeback. Wynne led off the frame with a pinch-hit single. Clark reached on a fielder's choice as Wynne was forced out at second before Fieldhouse drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Medina grounded out to the pitcher, moving both runners up a base. Jelnick then drove in Clark with a single to the shortstop to make it a 4-2 game with runners on the corners. Lee followed with a nine-pitch at-bat she turned into a walk to load the bases. Hickey entered and ended the game by getting Oshiro to fly out to center field.
ECU has a quick turnaround as it travels back to Greenville to host Maine (7-15) tomorrow for a 5:00 p.m. single contest. This weekend, the Pirates open Conference USA action welcoming Memphis (13-4) to town for a three-game series beginning with a 1:00 p.m. Saturday doubleheader.
