Houston Takes Two From ECU

April 30, 2011

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina dropped two games to Houston by 1-0 and 8-0 scores in front of an ECU Softball Stadium record crowd of 673 Saturday afternoon. Donna Bourgeois and Diedre Outon kept the Pirate offense in check as each gave up a first-inning single during games one and two for the only hits the Pirates recorded in the doubleheader.

Katy Beth Sherman scored the opener's only run on a sixth-inning wild pitch by senior Toni Paisley. Game two had Reina Gaber drive in three runs, score another and tally three hits to lead the Cougar offense.

Paisley (26-9) limited Conference USA's top offense to three hits in game one and struck out nine while issuing a pair of walks. Bourgeois (14-6) allowed a first-inning single, struck out 11 and walked a trio in the victory.

Game two had junior Faith Sutton (8-9) surrender eight runs on 12 hits to go along with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. Diedre Outon (4-2) kept the Pirates off balance after the first-inning single. She did not issue a walk and fanned four.

In the opener, the Pirates (34-18, 14-9 C-USA) mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the first as junior Suzanne Riggs drew a walk and senior Sissy Jimenez singled off the glove of Bourgeois in the circle. A strikeout swinging ended the threat.

After fanning six of the first 10 Houston batters, Paisley allowed the first Cougar base runner in the top of the fourth when Holly Anderson drew a one-out walk. Anderson stole second base, but a strikeout and fly out left her on second.

In the bottom of the frame, Jimenez reached again, this time picking up a one-out walk. Following a strikeout, she advanced to second on a passed ball. Freshman Taylor Megargel entered to pinch run for Jimenez, but was left stranded following a groundout.

Houston (35-15, 15-5 C-USA) registered its first hits of the game in the top of the fifth, but did not score. Brooke Lathan and Haley Outon tallied consecutive singles with one out to put runners on first and second. Paisley rebounded striking out Stesha Brazil looking and retiring Ashleigh Jones on a groundout.

The Pirates had their best scoring opportunity of the game in the bottom of the fifth, but failed to convert. Freshman Jasmine Robbins drew a walk to start the frame, the first leadoff batter of the game to reach for either team. Sophomore Cicely Lopez followed with a ground ball to shortstop Lathan, who threw to second to try and force out Robbins, but the throw sailed into right center, advancing Robbins to third and letting Lopez be safe at first. Junior pinch hitter Priscilla Velasquez grounded out to Lathan, moving Lopez to second with one out. Bourgeois got out of trouble by getting a pair of groundouts to Anderson at third base to end the threat.

After the defensive hold, the Cougars scored the game's only run in the top of the sixth. Sherman led off with a single to right center, advanced to second on an Anderson sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a groundout by Melissa Gregson. Gaber drew a two-out walk to put runners on the corners. With Jennifer Klinkert at bat and squaring to bunt, Paisley threw high and sophomore catcher Kai Clark got a glove on the ball, but could not control the wild pitch, scoring Sherman. Klinkert ended the inning, popping out to freshman Kristi Oshiro in shallow right center.

Bourgeois sent down East Carolina in order in the sixth and seventh innings to seal the victory.

In the second contest, the Cougars and Pirates both had a runner get to third with two outs in the first inning, but neither scored. A foul out by Gaber and groundout by Jimenez ended both threats. The Pirate first had freshman Jill Jelnick lead off with a single for ECU's lone hit of the contest.

Neither team had another runner reach second base until the top of the fourth, when Houston took a 1-0 lead. Gregson singled to left center to lead off the inning and scored on a Gaber double to right field. Erin Martin entered to pinch run for Gaber and advanced to third on a fly out to left center by Klinkert. Lathan popped out to Oshiro at second base, but Haley Outon recorded a walk to put runners on the corners with two outs. Sutton closed the inning with a foul out.

The Cougars added more runs in the top of the fifth, scoring five times for a 6-0 advantage. Jones and Sherman led off with singles to put runners on first and second with no outs. Anderson followed with a double off the wall in right that drove in Jones and advanced Sherman to third. Gregson popped out to Oshiro, but Gaber singled to left, plating Sherman and Anderson for a 4-0 lead. Gaber advanced to second on the throw home and scored when Klinkert singled to center field. After a groundout, Haley Outon singled into left field to drive in Klinkert. Brazil ended the frame with a groundout to Jimenez at first base.

In the top of the seventh, Houston tacked on two more runs for the 8-0 victory. Gaber and Klinkert singled with one out. Lathan bounced into a fielder's choice as Sutton retired Gaber at third on the force, but Haley Outon doubled to the gap in right center to drive in Klinkert and Lathan.

Diedre Outon sent down the final 17 Pirates in order to complete the victory.

The teams wrap up the three-game series Sunday with an 11:00 a.m. Senior Day contest.

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