March 15, 2003

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers softball team opened its Conference USA season with a pair of wins Saturday, taking a doubleheader at East Carolina. After winning game one, 5-4 in nine innings, the 49ers won game two to complete the sweep, 2-1.

In game one, Charlotte (11-9) went into extra innings tied at 4-4. Kristy Constantino won the game in the ninth, when she came home from third on Autumn Lawson's bases-loaded walk. Scoreless in third, Melanie Thevenote put the Niners on the board with a three-run double to score Lynne LaPorte, Constantino and Chelsie Parrish. Amy Morse pitched all nine innings, striking out six, to earn the win and evened her record at 4-4. Bridgeforth took the loss for East Carolina (14-10).

In game two, the 49ers wasted little time getting on the board. Constantino gave the team a 1-0 lead in the first, scoring on Lawson's sacrifice to third. The Pirates battled back to tie the game in the fourth. Both teams remained deadlocked until the sixth, when Lawson accounted for her second game-winning RBI of the day, sending a double to left center to drive in LaPorte, who reached on a single. Betsy Thompson allowed one run over six innings to pick up the win. She is now 2-1 for the season. Lingo suffered the loss for the Pirates.

Charlotte returns to action Sunday, when they close out the three-game series.