GREENVILLE, N.C. - Andrea Stevenson's one-out double in the bottom of the seventh gave Towson an 11-10 win over Fairfield in the opening game of the Pirate Clash. East Carolina used two runs in the bottom of the sixth to post a 6-5 comeback win over the Tigers (3-4) in the nightcap.
Against Fairfield (1-1), the Tiger found themselves down early as the Stags score a run in each of the first two innings. Towson responded though with seven runs in the bottom of the second. Sammi DiPompo had a two-run single to left while Courtney Wittner added an RBI double and Erika Stasch had an RBI single in the frame.
The Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the third as Stevenson used a groundout to plate Bina Abbott who had reached on a walk.
Trailing 8-2, Fairfield got three runs in the top of the fifth and five runs in the top of the sixth to hold a 10-8 advantage in the game.
The Tigers were not done yet as Stevenson doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and came around to score on an illegal pitch. Brianna Jones had her third double of the game which scored Stef Polonia, who had entered the game as a pinch-runner. Jones tied the school record for doubles in a game with her third two-bagger of the night.
After Paige Martin retired the Stags in the top of the seventh, Towson made the most of its last opportunity. Abbott reached on a walk and scored on Stevenson's one-out double.
Martin earned the win in the circle for the Tigers and she pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Emily Orr took the loss for Fairfield in relief after allowing one run on two hits.
Jones finished 4-for-4 in the game with three doubles, two RBIs and one run scored. Stevenson was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Abbott scored a pair of runs for the Tigers while DiPompo drove in two and scored one. Lauren Liseth had two hits and three runs scored for Fairfield.
In the second game, the Tigers once again found themselves down early as the Pirates scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.
The Tigers responded with three runs in the top of the second as Abbott had an RBI single and Lindsey Kent added an RBI groundout. Wittner's RBI single in the top of the third made it a 4-3 game in favor of the visitors.
After East Carolina tied the game at 4-4, Stasch gave Towson the lead back with a home run to left in the top of the sixth.
East Carolina took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth as Jordan Lewis had a two-run double, which would provide the final margin of victory.
Toni Paisley improves to 8-2 as she struck out 14 batters while allowing five runs in seven innings of work. Katie Lingmai took the loss for the Tigers after giving up six runs in five plus innings of work. Martin worked a scoreless inning of relief for the Tigers.
Stasch led the Tigers at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double and the Tigers' first home run of the year. Wittner and Abbott each had a hit, a run scored and an RBI for Towson. Lewis was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored to lead East Carolina.
The Tigers are back in action on Saturday for day two of the Pirate Clash. Towson will face Fairfield at 10 a.m. in its only game of the day.
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