GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Senior Kate Manuse drove in two runs and sophomore Keli Harrell earned her second win of the series as East Carolina claimed its 1,000th win in school history with a 4-1 victory over Louisville, completing the Pirates' first-ever three-game Conference USA sweep of the Cardinals.

With the victory ECU moved into sole possession of second place in the league with a 12-3 record and improved to 50-13 overall. The Cardinals dropped to third place in the conference with an 11-4 mark and fell to 26-16 overall.

East Carolina and Louisville were locked in a pitcher's duel most of the day for a second consecutive game. Through the first four innings of play each team managed just one run with both runs scoring on home runs. Manuse hit her 13th home run in the first inning to give the early lead before Lacy Wood tied the score with a solo shot of her own in the fourth.

The score remained knotted until the Pirates' half of the fifth when they plated two runs. Junior Krista Jessup and Manuse were issued back-to-back walks to start the inning and senior Mandi Nichols reached on error to load the bases with no outs. After the first our was recorded, freshman Beth Nolan then dropped in a base hit in shallow center field to drive in two runs and give the Pirates some breathing room.

Louisville threatened to cut into the Pirates' two-run lead in the sixth, but left two runners on without scoring. After yielding a lead off double, Harrell struck out the next batter she faced before being hit in the foot by a batted ball. A tough competitor, she remained in the game and proceeded to strike out the side.

Manuse added to her weekend hit total with an RBI-single in the Pirates' half of the seventh as ECU got a much-needed insurance run. Jessup swiped second base with two outs and then scored on base hit to center field by Manuse.

Manuse finished the series 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double and four RBI, while receiving five intentional walks.

Harrell (24-10) then retired three of four batters faced in the ninth to give ECU its first 50-win season since 2001 and fourth in school history.

She tossed her 28th complete game of the season, scattering eight hits and striking out 10 in the process to earn her 24th victory of the season. Bishop (14-7) was saddled with the loss for Louisville.

The Pirates return to action next weekend against league-leading DePaul in Chicago. ECU is currently two games behind the Blue Demons in the conference standings.