Southern Miss
East Carolina
Golden Eagles Fall in Conference USA Tournament, 8-0
5/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 13, 2010
HOUSTON, Texas - The Southern Miss softball team concluded its season, falling in the first quarterfinals of the Conference USA Softball Championship to top seed East Carolina, 8-0.
The Golden Eagles finished with a 25-28 record overall and closed the books on five careers, Megan Hill, Brandi Alonzo, Logan James, Lauren Castellvi and Lana Vaughn.
East Carolina's Toni Paisley (28-9) picked up the win as she allowed only three hits in the complete game shutout, working 5.0 innings and fanning eight. Courtney Ramos (9-11) took the loss for the Eagles, lasting 2.2 innings in allowing six runs on seven hits.
After two innings of scoreless ball, ECU put six runs on the board in the bottom of the third when Kai Clark then singled down the right field line. Ramos then retired the next two batters before Vanessa Moreno singled to left to put runners at first and second. Marina Gusman-Brown drew a walk to load the bases. Clark came around to score off a wild pitch to put the Pirates up 1-0. ECU added two more runs as Kaui Tom had a base hit to right to score Moreno and Gusman-Brown. The Pirates kept the inning going as Sissy Jimenez reached base in an infield single. Tom came around to score off Sissy Jimenez base hit. Gabby Luciani came on in relief of Ramos and Priscilla Valesquez had a two RBI double to right center to cap off the Pirate scoring at 6-0.
The Golden Eagles threatened in the top of the fourth when Britney Dinelt was hit by a pitch. Hill reached on a fielder's choice. Alexis Hurley delivered the Eagles first hit of the game when she singled to center. Both runners moved up a base on a pass ball, but Paisley ended the inning with a strike out.
Beth Dietrich came in to pitch for the Golden Eagles. East Carolina added two more runs in the home half of the fourth as Christina Merrida singled to start the inning and moved to third on a Moreno double. Tom added her second RBI single to plate Merrida. Moreno came around to score off Jimenez single up the middle.
The Golden Eagles made one last ditch effort to push the game past the five innings. Castellvi reached on bloop-single to right. After Paisley retired Alonzo, Leslie LeJune doubled to left center to put runners at second and third with two outs. Paisley then ended the game on a strikeout.
The Pirates, who finished the game with 12 hits, will play Houston in the semifinals.
