GREENVILLE, N.C. --- East Carolina scored four runs in the bottom of fifth inning to rally from a 2-0 deficit and defeat Fairfield in the championship game of the 2004 Hampton Inn Pirate Classic, 5-2, here Sunday. The Pirates (8-0-1) are unbeaten in nine games this season with eight wins and one tie.

Mandi Nichols and Kristen Johnson drew consecutive one-out walks to start the rally. Lara Brickhouse later followed with a two-out, run-scoring single. Shirley Burleson then drew a base-on-balls to load the bases before Lacassa Hill drove in the tying run by drawing a walk of her own. Christine Sheridan and Leigh Savoy then followed with back-to-back RBI-singles to break the tie. The Pirates then added another run in the sixth.

Maggie Lingo (2-0) picked up her second win of the season, scattering six hits over seven innings with four strikeouts and didn't allow an earned run.

ECU reached the championship game by defeating Delaware in the semifinals, 6-4. With the game even at 4-all heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Pirates scored twice to break the tie. Krista Jessup's one-out double and a walk to Kaycie Maines got things started for ECU. After both runners moved up on a passed ball, an errant throw by the Delaware pitcher allowed Jessup to score from third and Maines from second base.

Brentley Bridgeforth (4-0) came on in relief with two outs in the fifth and didn't allow a runner to get passed second base in 2.1 innings of work to pick up the victory.

Sheridan and Kate Manuse each earned all-tournament accolades as each collected 10 hits and hit over .500 during the tournament.

2004 Hampton Inn/Pirate Classic All-Tournament Team
Kate Manuse, East Carolina
Christine Sheridan, East Carolina
Shannon Logan, Fiarfield
Brie Zimmerman, Fairfield
Laura Streets, Delaware
Laurie Erickson, Delaware
Jeanne Bosch, Towson
Sara Foster, Towson