UVa Falls to East Carolina 9-1

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GREENVILLE, N.C. The Virginia softball team (1-1) fell to East Carolina 9-1 in the second game of the Pirate Invitational Saturday in Greenville, N.C. The Cavaliers had just three hits in the contest and scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth, an RBI single by Giannia Cipolloni.

ECU hurler Toni Paisley went the distance in the circle, earning the win with a three-hit, one-run performance. Paisley finished the contest with eight strikeouts and did not walk a single Cavalier.

Second-year Allee Rife took the loss for Virginia. The lefty tossed 1 1/3 innings and gave up six runs, five earned, on four hits. First-year Stephanie Coates made her college debut in the second inning and threw 5 2/3 innings. She allowed three runs on four hits and recorded her first career strikeout.

East Carolina made a strong start scoring two runs in the top of the first and four in the second.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Pittman beat out an infield single to short and would move to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, Cipolloni, singled into right and Pittman was able to score easily from second.

Lauren McCaskey recorded the other hit, a single to center, for Virginia.

East Carolina’s Jessica Johnson and Marina Gusman-Brown each recorded two hits. Gusman-Brown had a solo home run to left and finished with a game-best three RBI.

Virginia plays both Middle Tennessee and East Carolina again Sunday to conclude the Pirate Invitational. The Blue Raiders and Cavaliers will battle at 10 a.m. at the ECU Softball Field.