Houston holds off East Carolina, 8-6

Cougars use seven run third to pick-up crucial victory over Pirates

The struggling Pirates produced the start they needed, but a seven run third was too much for East Carolina to overcome in an 8-6 loss to Houston on Thursday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

ECU (30-24, 10-12) took a 2-0 lead in the first when Kyle Roller drew a two-out walk and John Wooten followed with his seventh home run of the season to left center.

The Cougars’ third inning eruption commenced when Codey Morehouse singled to center. Following a Ryan Still bunt single and Blake Kelso walk, the bases were juiced for Joel Ansley. Ansley brought home the inning’s first run with a single up the middle. Caleb Ramsey and Zak Presley would continue the merry-go-round with singles to extend the margin to 4-2. However, the biggest blow came when designated hitter M.P. Cokinos capped the frame’s scoring with a three-run homer to left to make it 7-2.

It remained 7-2 until the sixth when Devin Harris connected on his tenth homer of the season with two outs to pull the Pirates within three at 7-4.

Houston (23-29, 10-12) threatened in the seventh, but Kevin Brandt pitched out a one out jam to hold the Cougars off the board.

UH did tack on a run in the eighth on Chris Wallace’s solo shot to right center, but ECU once again escaped further damage when the Cougars hit into a 5-3 double play with the bases loaded.

Rayner Noble opted to pull starter Michael Goodnight after the seventh and it looked, as though, that move might backfire. Reliever Matt Creel struggled with his command and walked the first two batters he faced—Kyle Roller and John Wooten. Jared Avchen followed with a single to load the bases for Austin Homan. Homan grounded out to second to make it 8-5. Devin Harris proceeded to draw a base on balls to re-load the bases, but ECU would manage to plate just one more—leaving Houston up 8-6 after eight.

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Jake Harris held Houston off the board in the ninth, but the Pirates went in order in the bottom of the frame.

Woods took the loss for East Carolina, dropping the righty to 8-4. Goodnight improved to 6-7 after allowing four runs—on two home runs—and five hits in seven.

Joel Ansley, Codey Morehouse and Ryan Still all had two hits for the Cougars.

John Wooten was the only Pirate with a multi-hit game, as he went 2-for-4.

The crucial series will continue tonight at 8 p.m. on CBS College Sports.