Pirates Eliminate Herd From Conference USA Tournament, 7-2

May 9, 2008

HOUSTON, Texas. - The East Carolina University Pirates used a five-run seventh inning to eliminate the Marshall Thundering Herd softball team from the Conference USA Championship in the quarterfinal, Thursday evening at the Cougar Softball Stadium.

Marshall (26-29) was held to three hits in the contest, while the Pirates (36-27) had nine, four coming in the seventh inning alone.

Sophomore ace Caitlyn Jackson (13-17) earned the loss going six innings allowing six runs from six hits. Junior Autumn Mitchell came in for relief in the top of the sixth an gave up one run, before Jackson reentered the game in the seventh.

ECU secured the victory in the top of the seventh with the five-run inning. Shortstop Paige Bagget led off the inning with a double to left field. Right fielder Charina Sumner continued with a RBI double scoring Bagget from second.

After center fielder Christina Merrida was hit by a pitch, catcher Vanessa Moreno hit a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to the second and third. With runners in scoring position and no outs, left fielder Stacey Andrews singled up the middle driving in Sumner from third. With runners on the corner, a stolen base attempt by Andrews allowed a misplay by the Herd defense scoring Merida on the throwing error.

The Pirates culminated the inning when Cristen Aona hit her fourth homer of the year to right field, a two-run shot to increase ECU's lead to 7-2.

ECU broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning with two hits and a walk. Second baseman Erin St. Ledger earned a one-out walk and advanced to second on the next pitch, a Bagget single through the left side. With runners on first and second, leadoff hitter Sumner hit a RBI single scoring St. Ledger from second.

Marshall answered in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead. Designated player Rachel Schmidt delivered with a one-out single to left field to get the Herd started. Schmidt advanced to second on a wild pitch and was replaced by sophomore Erin DeStefano. DeStefano, pinch running at second, was moved over to third when Joscelyn Bitner hit an infield single to the Pirate's shortstop.

With runners on the corner and one-out, the Herd's second baseman Deanna Tourville battled for a walk to load the bases. The 2008 Conference USA Player of the Year, Rachel Folden drew a four pitch walk to bring in the Herd's first run of the game.

Tied at one, Marshall wasn't done in the bottom of the fifth. Senior right fielder Samantha Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field, scoring Bitner from third, giving the Herd a 2-1 advantage. The one-out RBI increased Rodriguez's team-high total to 44 on the season.

ECU tied the game in the next half inning with a lead off home run from left fielder Stacey Andrews. Andrews cracked the 0-1 pitch to left center to tie the game at two.

The Pirates and Herd met twice earlier in the year with Marshall sweeping ECU in the conference doubleheader. Due to rain, the teams only played two games instead of its scheduled three-game series. The Herd won the first game 6-3, before defeating the ECU 5-3 in the finale.

The Pirates will now play Houston in the Conference USA semifinal, Friday, May 9 at 4 p.m. (C.T.).

East Carolina 7, Marshall University 2 (May 08, 2008 at Houston, Texas)----------------------------------------------------------------------East Carolina....... 000 011 5 -  7  9  0      (36-27)Marshall University. 000 020 0 -  2  3  4      (26-29)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: East Carolina - SWANN, Brooke. Marshall University - Jackson, Caitlyn;MITCHELL, Autumn(7).Win-SWANN, Brooke(8-18)  Loss-JACKSON, Caitlyn(13-17)  T-1:57  A-0HR ECU - ANDREWS, Stacey (11); AONA, Cristen (4).

Marshall University Athletics

Pirates Eliminate Herd From Conference USA Tournament, 7-2

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Players Mentioned

Joscelyn Bitner

Erin DeStefano

Rachel Folden

Caitlyn Jackson

Autumn Mitchell

Samantha Rodriguez

Rachel Schmidt

Deanna Tourville

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