7th Inning Blast Gives ECU Win Over Wolfpack

Wednesday, April 15

Greenville, N.C.

5:00 PM

NC State

20-20

East Carolina

30-11

NC State

East Carolina

4/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. NC State lost 3-1 at East Carolina Wednesday evening when the Pirates Cristen Aona hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning

The win improves ECU to 30-11, while NC State falls to an even 20-20 mark on the season.

Toni Paisley, 22-6, recorded the victory in the circle as she allowed six hits and struck out 14. Wolfpack hurler Mendy McKenzie also had a solid performance in the circle, allowing six hits and striking out five.

The Pack was led on offense by Alyssa Allbritten, who finished with two hits, and Claudia Cooper, who drove in the team’s only run.

In the top of the fifth, NC State mounted its first scoring chance of the game as Bridget Desbois led off with a single to right field. Katie Mansilla came in to pinch run and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kristine Bechtholdt. After a strikeout, an infield single by Lauren Peters put runners at the corners with two outs, but a pop out by Landon Warren ended the threat and kept the game scoreless.

East Carolina broke through with a run in the bottom of the frame when Angel Barrella singled up the middle and advanced to second on an error. After a sacrifice bunt moved Barrella to third, Jessica Johnson singled home Barrella for the 1-0 lead.

The Pirate lead was short lived as the Wolfpack knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the sixth. Alyssa Ishibashi singled to right, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on Allbritten’s second single of the game. A single by Cooper then drove in Ishibashi and tied the score.

In the bottom of the seventh, Barrella led off with a walk and went to second on Sumner’s third sacrifice bunt of the afternoon. One out later Aona stepped to the plate and hit the game-winning homer over the left field wall.

NC State hosts ACC foe Florida State this weekend with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., followed by one game on Sunday at 12 p.m.