East Carolina hammers High Point, 13-1, in home finale’

Six Pirate pitchers combine to two-hit Panthers

After scoring just seven runs over the weekend against Southern Miss, East Carolina erupted for 13 runs over the first three innings and cruised to a 13-1 win over visiting High Point on Wednesday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The Pirates (33-19-1) opened the scoring in the first via Zach Wright’s fifth homer of the season—a three-run shot to right center.

High Point (24-28), which started seldom used southpaw Nick Schumacher, made a pitching change just batters into the second after Jack Reinheimer doubled and Bryan Bass walked.

However, Panther reliever Matt Armstead didn’t fair any better, as ECU went on to explode for seven runs on six hits in the second.

With runners on first and second and no one out, Mike Ussery proceeded to lay down a sac bunt and Armstead’s throw to first went awry to allow Reynolds, who reached on a fielder’s choice, to cross the plate to make it 4-0.

Five out of the next six Pirates that came to the plate recorded hits and ECU led 10-0 after Reinheimer’s second hit of the inning—a soft liner over the shortstop’s head.

The Panthers, who didn’t manage a hit against Pirate starter Kevin Brandt, threatened in the third. Josh Spano walked with one out and Mike Miedzianowski reached on an error by ECU second baseman Tim Younger. However, the veteran lefty locked in to strike out Medina and McDermott to end the inning.

East Carolina pushed across its final three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Ussery and Younger drew consecutive walks to open the inning before Drew Reynolds walked to load the bases. John Wooten delivered a two-run single that made it 12-0 before Corey Thompson came through with a run-scoring single.

Brandt, who was on a pitch count, was lifted prior to the start of the fourth inning following three hitless shutout frames of work and left to a rousing ovation in what was likely his final appearance at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

High Point broke up the no-hitter when Devin Bujnovsky reached on an infield single—the only hit in two innings against Dylan Dickens—with one out in the fifth.

Jake Harris relieved Dickens and didn’t allow a hit in two innings before Lake took over.

The Panthers avoided the shutout with a run against DeShorn Lake in the eighth. Lake walked leadoff man Andrew Bartlett. Bartlett advanced to second and Spencer Angelis plated him by singling to center.

While he went just three innings, Brandt was the designated starter in a “staffed” game; therefore, the senior received the win.

Seven players drove in runs for East Carolina, who outhit HPU, 14-2.

John Wooten went 4-for-5 with two rbi to lead ECU. Jack Reinheimer (3-for-5) and Corey Thompson (2-for-5) also had multi-hit games.

East Carolina will resume play on Friday afternoon when it faces VMI in Richmond. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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