April 29, 2006

GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Walk-off hits by Jessica Johnson and Beth Nolan propelled East Carolina to a Conference USA doubleheader sweep of Southern Miss here Saturday, 4-3 and 3-2 in nine innings.

Johnson ripped a single to center, driving in two runs in the bottom of the seventh to give the Pirates their first of two come-from-behind wins.

Freshman Vanessa Moreno gave ECU (35-22, 9-11) a 1-0 lead with a leadoff home run in game one before Southern Miss (26-32, 10-10) scored three unanswered runs to assume a two-run the lead in the fifth. ECU then cut its deficit to one-run in the sixth as Paige Baggett doubled to plate Krista Jessup from second base.

The first two ECU batters each reached safely to start the seventh before both runners were sacrificed over by Erin St. Ledger. Jessup was then issued the second walk of the frame to bring Johnson to the plate with one out.

Senior Brently Bridgeforth (4-5) kept held the Golden Eagles without a hit over the final 2.1 innings to earn the victory after relieving starting pitcher Stephanie Hayes. USM starter Lacy Gros (14-15) was charged with the loss as she went the distance, striking out six and walking five.

Junior Keli Harrell (21-14) yielded just four hits in her second nine-inning performance of the year and struck out 10 in game two, retiring the final batters eight batters she faced.

Kristen Pilgrim was responsible for driving in both of USM's game two runs. She homered with two outs in the second inning and then delivered a two-out RBI-single in the fourth.

The Pirates tied the score in the fourth. Baggett homered to lead off the frame. St. Ledger later punched a base hit through the left side to plate Alison Monce.

Harrell allowed just one hit past the fourth inning and did not allow a runner past first base as she issued her only walk of the afternoon in the fourth, facing just three batters over the minimum.

After inducing a double play to end the seventh, Harrell retired the Golden Eagles in order in the eighth and ninth innings.

Jessup started the Pirates' ninth-inning rally with a one-out single before being erased on a fielder's choice that allowed Johnson to reach. Baggett then reached on an infield single to bring Nolan to the plate.

Jessup and Nolan each collected three hits in the Pirates 12-hit attack.

The three-game series will conclude Sunday at the ECU Softball Field. The first pitch is schedule to be thrown at 12 p.m.