The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
BYU vs. East Carolina
BYU defeats East Carolina 1-0 in game one at NCAA Austin Regional
05.20.2010 | Softball
May 20, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -- Junior pitcher Paige Affleck tossed a complete-game four-hit shutout to pace the BYU softball team to a 1-0 victory against East Carolina in the opening game of the NCAA Austin Regional on Thursday night at Red and Charline McCombs Field. BYU improved to 44-11 overall, while East Carolina fell to 42-17.
With Thursday's win, BYU advances to Friday's winner's bracket game at 2:30 p.m. Central against the winner of Thursday night's Texas-Iona contest. East Carolina will play in an elimination game on Friday at 5 p.m. Central against the loser of Thursday night's Texas-Iona contest.
Affleck improved to 31-8 with her complete-game effort, adding six strikeouts against just one walk. Junior Toni Paisley (30-10) took the loss for the Pirates, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five without a walk in 6.0 innings of work.
BYU scored the only run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kristin Delahoussaye led off the frame with a single to left field, and J.C. Clayton followed with a bunt single. With two outs, Caschjen Davis-Atagi was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. The Cougars plated their run when Jessica Purcell-Fitu was hit-by-pitch on a 1-2 count to bring home Delahoussaye.
Affleck limited the Pirates to just two quality scoring chances during the game. In the top of the fourth, Marina Gusman-Brown singled up the middle with two outs. Gusman-Brown then stole second and advanced to third base on a throwing error by BYU catcher Jessica Purcell-Fitu, but Cristen Aona grounded out to third to end the frame. In the top of the sixth, Charina Sumner hit a one-out double to left center and Christina Merrida followed with a walk. A Vanessa Moreno groundout advanced Sumner to third and Merrida to second. Gusman-Brown then hit a ground ball sharply to BYU's Clayton at short, and Merrida was called out on the play for runner's interference.
Post-Game Notes
- BYU advances to Friday's winner's bracket game at 2:30 p.m. Central against the winner of Thursday night's Texas-Iona contest.
- East Carolina will play in an elimination game on Friday at 5 p.m. Central against the loser of Thursday night's Texas-Iona contest.
- BYU improved to 8-12 all-time in NCAA Tournament play (seven appearances). ECU fell to 1-5 all-time in NCAA Tournament play (three appearances).
- Both starting pitchers were perfect through the first three innings.
- The two pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts against just one walk but did have a total of four hit-batters.
- East Carolina registered the first hit of the game on a single up the middle by Marina Gusman-Brown with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.
- BYU recorded its first hit of the game on a single to left field by Kristin Delahoussaye to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.
