HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A seven-run sixth inning in game one and a leadoff home run in the top of the eighth by freshman Alex Fieldhouse in the second contest led East Carolina to a pair of wins over Marshall Saturday afternoon.

The Pirates (23-8, 3-2 Conference USA) downed the Thundering Herd 10-1 in six innings and then 3-2 in eight frames.

Senior Toni Paisley earned the victory both contests. The wins were the 102nd and 103rd of her career, pushing her past Jenny Parsons (1990-93/102) for the all-time East Carolina record.

Paisley (17-4) went all six innings in the opener and scattered four hits. She fanned nine and did not issue a walk the day after she was the 10th overall pick in the National Pro Fastpich Draft. Erika Bennett (1-2) took the loss for Marshall, throwing one-and-two-thirds innings and allowing six runs, none earned, on six hits.

She walked one and struck out another.

Rachel Rillo went four innings, surrendering four runs on three hits and a walk. Jessica Ferrick recorded the final out after allowing a pair of hits.

In the second game, junior Faith Sutton threw the first five innings, allowing one run on just two hits and a walk. She struck out five before giving way to Paisley in the bottom of the sixth. Paisley went the last three frames and gave up an unearned run on one hit and one walk. Natalee Pulver (3-7) threw all eight innings for Marshall, allowing three runs on seven hits. She fanned five and walked a pair.

In the opener, the Pirates wasted little time getting on the board, scoring three unearned runs with two outs in the top of the first. Freshman Rebecca Lee and senior Sissy Jimenez hit consecutive singles with one out. A groundout advanced the runners to second and third before junior Suzanne Riggs hit a deep fly ball to right center. The Marshall center and right fielders did not communicate as the right fielder knocked the ball out of the center fielder’s glove and the ball rolled to the wall. Riggs, Lee and Jimenez all scored to put ECU up 3-0. A groundout ended the threat.

Marshall (10-15, 0-5 C-USA) had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first as Alianna Telles led off with a single to left field. Paisley retired the next two batters on a strikeout and foul out before Telles stole second base. A groundout back to Paisley left Telles stranded on the bag.

East Carolina had a chance to add more runs in the top of the second but could not convert. Fieldhouse led off with a single to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Chelsea Kaluhiokalani-Glackin followed with a walk, putting runners on first and second with one out. A lineout and strikeout, however, closed the inning.

In the bottom of the third, the Thundering Herd scored its only run of the game and cut its deficit to 3-1. Ashley Gue beat out an infield single with one out and stole second base. Telles then singled to center, plating Gue. Telles was thrown out at second as freshman Jasmine Robbins hit Jimenez with the relay throw and Jimenez tossed to Kaluhiokalani-Glackin, who was covering second and applied the tag. A strikeout swinging ended the Marshall threat.

Neither team had another base runner until Jessica Hughes reached on a two-out infield single in the bottom of the fifth. Hughes stole second base, but Paisley struck out pinch hitter Amanda

Lara to close the frame.

The Pirates broke the game open in the top of the sixth with seven runs to make it a 10-1 advantage. Freshman Jordan Lewis singled to left field with one out, Fieldhouse walked and Robbins was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman Abby Wynne entered to pinch hit and hit a ground-rule double to center field that plated Lewis and Fieldhouse for a 5-1 edge. Freshman Kristi Oshiro delivered two more with a double to the gap in right center, scoring Robbins and Wynne. Following a strikeout, Jimenez reached on a fielding error that allowed Oshiro to score for an 8-1 lead.

Junior Priscilla Velasquez kept the inning going with a single to right, putting runners on first and second with two outs. Freshmen Taylor Megargel and Jill Jelnick entered to pinch run for Jimenez and Velasquez, respectively. A Riggs single to center plated Megargel and made it a 9-1 advantage. Lewis’ second single of the inning drove in Jelnick for the frame’s final tally. Lewis finished the game 3-4 with a run scored and another driven in. A lineout by Fieldhouse to Telles at shortstop ended the inning.

Paisley retired the Thundering Herd in order in the bottom of the sixth to end the game due to the eight-run rule.

In the second contest, the Pirates again jumped on the board in the opening inning. Oshiro led off with an infield single before Lee drew a walk. Lewis came through again with a hard-hit double off the glove of Jazmine Valle at third base and into left field. Oshiro scored and Lee advanced to third on the play. A groundout, lineout and pop out prevented the Pirates from scoring more in the frame.

Marshall registered its first hit of the game in the bottom of the third, when Samantha Spurlock singled to center field with one out. Spurlock stole second base and, after a strikeout, went to third on a passed ball. With two outs, Telles sent a hard line drive to left field, but Riggs made a diving snag to end the inning.

The Thundering Herd knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth with a Rebecca Gamby solo home run to right center with two outs. Melanie Stoehr followed with a walk and Morgan Cottrell entered to pinch run. Cottrell stole second base, but Sutton retired pinch hitter Victoria Marvin on a groundout to Oshiro at second.

After Pulver retired 15-straight batters, Oshiro broke the string with a leadoff single through the right side in the top of the sixth. Oshiro moved to second on a Lee sacrifice bunt, but Lewis lined into a double play as Telles caught the ball at shortstop and doubled Oshiro off second.

Neither team had a base runner in the seventh and the game went into extra innings. Fieldhouse entered to pinch hit and led off the eighth with a home run to left center, her second career long ball. Robbins followed with an infield single, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a double to the gap in left center by Oshiro. During game two, Oshiro went 3-4 with a run scored and RBI.

After a strikeout, Lewis was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second with two down. Wynne grounded one toward Telles at shortstop, but beat out the throw for an infield single, loading the bases. A strikeout closed the Pirate half inning.

The Thundering Herd scored a run in the bottom of the eighth, but could not tie it again. Pinch hitter Bri Anna Hope drew a two-out walk and came home when Telles singled to right and Lewis misplayed the ball. Telles ended up on second on the play and Taylor Thompson came in to pinch run. She advanced to third on a wild pitch. Paisley ended the game inducing a pop out from Lara to Kaluhiokalani-Glackin.

The Pirates go for their first C-USA series sweep of the season with a 12:00 p.m. Sunday contest.

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