May 6, 2010

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GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Pirates (34-16) play the final games at the ECU Softball Field Thursday with a 5:00 p.m. doubleheader against in-state foe Elon (33-17). East Carolina will open its new stadium next season. So far in 2010, the Pirates are undefeated against teams from North Carolina, going 9-0 and outscoring Campbell, N.C. Central, UNC Greensboro, N.C. State and UNC Wilmington 62-7.

Last weekend, East Carolina shut out Southern Miss over three games to post 4-0, 1-0 and 5-0 victories. It was the second time this season the Pirates did not allow a run during a Conference USA series. Senior Vanessa Moreno's second-inning solo home run was all ECU needed in the opener. The second contest had sophomore Suzanne Riggs drive in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh with a pinch-hit single. Sunday, the Pirates scored in each of the first three innings as junior Toni Paisley threw her second shutout in as many days.

This weekend, East Carolina closes out the C-USA season with a three-game series at Memphis (24-22, 8-12 C-USA). The teams play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 2:00 p.m. and complete the weekend with a 1:00 p.m. Sunday contest.

Pirates Against The Phoenix ...
East Carolina holds a 12-3-1 advantage against Elon in the alltime series, which began in 1998. The teams played at least once a year from 1998-2005 and did not meet again until last season. The Pirates took 10 of the first 11 contests, but the Phoenix has posted a 2-2-1 mark in the past five games.

The lone tie of the series was a 2-2 draw in 2004 at the Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C., when inclement weather suspended play. The score was deadlocked at two going into the seventh inning and the Pirates scored four in the top of the frame. Due to the weather, the bottom of the inning was never played and the score reverted back to the last completed frame, resulting in a 2-2 final score. It was the last tie in the Pirate program and the only one in head coach Tracey Kee's career.

Last season in Elon, the Pirates jumped out to a 6-1 lead after three-run home runs by Jessica Johnson and Kaui Tom, but the Phoenix made it 6-4 after a three-run shot from Kaitlyn Piazzolla. Elon could not complete the comeback as Paisley came in to throw the final four-and-two-thirds innings, recording the victory as she struck out 10 and allowed one hit.

Paisley Nabs Sixth Pitcher-Of-The-Week Award ...
For the sixth time this season, Paisley was named the Conference USA Pitcher-of-the-Week after throwing two shutouts against Southern Miss last weekend. In Saturday's opener, she limited the Golden Eagles to a Jill Mathis single and struck out 13. It was the 33rd game of her career recording at least 10 whiffs. The victory was also the 78th of her career, moving her into sole possession of fourth on the all-time Conference USA list. Sunday, she recorded win No. 24 of the season as she scattered three hits and walked one while striking out six, bringing her 2010 total to 290, the third most in a year in East Carolina history.

Southern Miss hit just .087 against Paisley over the weekend. She has blanked opponents in eight of her past nine starts and has a 0.60 earned run average in C-USA contests.

Riggs = Captain Clutch ...
In the second game against Southern Miss Saturday, Riggs delivered the game's only run with a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh inning that drove in senior Nicole Jordan. It was Riggs' third pinch-hit, game-winning hit in the seventh inning or later this season. Riggs also plated the winner in the opener at N.C. State with an eighth-inning single and in the second game against UTEP with a seventh-inning single.

Ending It The Right Way ...
Thursday's doubleheader marks the final games at the ECU Softball Field. The Pirates are 15-3 at home this season and have won their past nine home contests.

I'm Single, Thanks ...
Last weekend against Southern Miss, East Carolina recorded 17 base hits, but only three went for extra bases with a home run in game one and a double in the second and third contests.