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C-USA CHAMPIONS

5/8/2010 - Pirates Capture First C-USA Championship

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The East Carolina softball team claimed its first Conference USA regular season championship Saturday afternoon with a pair of shutout victories over Memphis. The Pirates (38-16, 15-5 C-USA) took the first game 3-0 and the second 8-0. It is the first regular season title for the ECU program since winning three consecutive Big South championships from 1997-99.

Seniors Marina Gusman-Brown and Vanessa Moreno each hit a home run in the opener before Gusman-Brown hit another in the second contest. The duo combined to drive in seven of ECU's 11 runs in the two games. Sophomore Priscilla Velasquez also chipped in during the second contest, going 2-2, scoring two runs and driving in another.

In the first game, junior Toni Paisley (26-9) recorded her 11th-straight C-USA shutout as she surrendered four hits and three walks. She also struck out 12, marking the sixth time she has fanned at least 10 in a league contest. Memphis' Vanessa Walle (8-11) lasted the first three innings for the Tigers (24-24, 8-14 C-USA), giving up three runs on three hits and a walk. She also struck out a pair. Lauren Carley came in and threw the final four frames, allowing only two hits and a pair of free passes while striking out four. READ MORE

5/15/2010 - Pirates Win C-USA Tournament Title

HOUSTON, Texas - The East Carolina softball team fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first, but came back to claim its first Conference USA Tournament championship with a 3-1 victory over UCF. Sophomore Priscilla Velasquez drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the second inning with a sacrifice fly that scored senior Cristen Aona. C-USA Tournament Most Valuable Player Toni Paisley earned her 30th win of the season in the complete-game effort.

With the tournament title, the Pirates receive Conference USA's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It is ECU's third berth in the post-season tournament and second in the past three seasons. The Pirates were in the NCAA Tournament in 1999, falling to Arizona and Southeast Missouri State, and returned in 2008, defeating Mississippi Valley State and losing to Louisiana-Lafayette and LSU.

This year's NCAA Regionals begin Friday. East Carolina will learn where it is headed for regional action Sunday at 10:00 p.m., when the NCAA Tournament selection show airs on ESPNU. READ MORE