East Carolina University
UCF
ECU Blanks UCF 1-0
April 10, 2011 | Softball
April 10, 2011
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina snapped its three-game losing streak Sunday with a 1-0 victory over UCF as senior Toni Paisley tied the Conference USA career wins record with her nation-leading 13th solo shutout of the year. Paisley and DePaul's Lindsay Chouinard (2000-03) share the league's all-time victory mark with 108 in their careers. A throwing error allowed junior Suzanne Riggs to score the only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth as East Carolina improved to 29-13 and 9-6 in C-USA.
Paisley (22-6) is now 12-1 in her career against UCF and lowered her earned run average to 0.84 in C-USA games this season. She scattered four hits and issued three walks to go along with seven strikeouts. Diana Rojas (6-8) took the tough-luck loss for the Knights after limiting the Pirates to just a pair of hits and surrendering an unearned run. She fanned three and walked a pair in her six innings.
UCF (15-23, 5-7 C-USA) had a chance to score in the top of the first when Allie Jest led off the game with a single up the middle. After a lineout to left, Natalie Land singled through the right side, moving Jest to second. A double play got the Pirates out of trouble as Abby McClain lined out to freshman Kristi Oshiro at second base and Jest was doubled off.
The Knights had a two-out threat in the top of the second, but did not score. With one out, Marissa Menendez drew a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Patrice Fee was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with two outs. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base, but Paisley struck out Tiffany Lane looking to end the threat.
East Carolina got its first hit of the game in the bottom of the second on a two-out single to center field by senior Sissy Jimenez. A groundout back to Rojas left her stranded.
The teams went quietly until the bottom of the fifth, when the Pirates scored the only run of the contest. Riggs started the frame with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jimenez. Freshman Jill Jelnick followed with a grounder to shortstop Lane, who tried to throw to third and retire Riggs. The throw went wide of the bag, Riggs scored and Jelnick ended up on second after the error. A strikeout and groundout closed the frame.
In the top of the sixth, the Knights threatened again but did not convert. Tawny Swan led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Land. A walk to McClain put runners on first and second with one out. Kellie Todd worked the count full after being behind 0-2, but Paisley struck her out swinging for the second out. Menendez struck out looking, ending the threat and keeping the Pirates up by one run.
Paisley sealed the victory with a pair of strikeouts and a lineout in the seventh.
East Carolina returns to the diamond Wednesday for a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader against rival N.C. State (18-18). The Pirates have claimed five-straight wins versus the Wolfpack after dropping the first five meetings in the all-time series.
