GREENVILLE, N.C. — East Carolina used the long ball to help itself sweep a pair of games at the 2004 Hampton Inn/Pirate Classic on Friday and a 4-0-1 start to the season. Sophomore Christine Sheridan hit a grand slam home run to propel ECU to a 10-0 win over Delaware in its opening game, while junior Mandi Nichols' three-run homer lifted the Pirates to a 4-3 win over Fairfield in their second game.

ECU plated four runs in second inning to open the scoring against Delaware, highlighted by Sheridan's three-run triple. Two singles, an error, sacrifice bunt and a walk set the table for Sheridan's grand slam in fifth inning. She finished the game 2-for-4 with seven RBIs. Junior Kate Manuse also collected three hits in the game, which was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule. Junior Maggie Lingo (1-0) picked up her first win of the season, scattering five hits over four innings.

Fairfield got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the third, but the Pirates answered with four in the bottom half of the frame. Senior Kristen Johnson's RBI-single plated freshman Kaycie Maines from second base to tie the game. Johnson and Sheridan then pulled off a double steal to put two runners in scoring position before Nichols went deep.

Sophomore Brentley Bridgeforth (2-0) earned her second win of the season, giving up three run, all unearned, on three hits in four innings of work. Freshman Keli Harrell earned her first career save, holding the Stags hitless over the final three innings with five strikeouts.

The Pirates will continue round-robin play at the 2004 Hampton Inn/Pirate Classic on Saturday. ECU will take on George Mason at 12 noon and then play Towson at approximately 2 p.m.

2004 Hampton Inn/Pirate Classic Scoreboard

Friday, February 20
East Carolina 10, Delaware 0
Towson 1, George Mason 0
East Carolina 4, Fairfield 3
George Mason 6, Delaware 2
Towson 2, Fairfield 1