East Carolina blows out Memphis, 14-7, to take series

Pirates pound out 17 hits in finale' with Tigers

After trailing 3-1 through three innings, East Carolina exploded for 11 unanswered runs over its next three at-bats and went on to an easy 14-7 victory in its series finale' with Memphis on Sunday at FedExPark.

Tigers' starter Chase Joiner walked the first three batters he faced, but the Pirates (25-10-1, 8-3-1) managed just a sacrifice fly by John Wooten as Joiner escaped the jam with limited damage.

Memphis (16-20, 6-6) took a 2-1 lead in the second. ECU starter Jharel Cotton walked Jacob Wilson with one out and the Tigers' T.J. Rich proceeded to deposit the first offering he saw over the fence in right center.

The Pirates took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth via rbi singles by Reinheimer and Younger.

In the fifth, ECU extended its lead to 6-2.

Corey Thompson and John Wooten delivered back-to-back doubles to start the frame. Then, with one out and his team up 4-2, Zach Wright connected on a two-run shot to left.

Then, the floodgates opened in the sixth as the first eight Pirates who came to the plate reached. After Clark and Younger produced consecutive singles, Reynolds and Thompson followed with run-scoring singles. Patrick Bailey was lifted from the game and his replacement Michael Wills was greeted by John Wooten, who connected for his team-leading seventh homer down the left field line. The final run of the frame came when Philip Clark delivered a sac fly to score Jay Cannon.

Leading 12-2, it looked as though the Pirates may run rule the Tigers and get an abbreviated afternoon at the ballpark. However, the Tigers managed to plate three runs in the bottom of the inning to the game going.

Jacob Wilson doubled home the first run of the frame before Derrick Thomas' two-run single with two outs made it 12-5.

The Pirates pushed the lead to 13-5 via Jay Cannon's rbi double in the seventh.

The Tigers scored two runs with two outs off ECU reliever Tanner Merritt in the seventh, but they would not get any closer.

ECU's final run came when Cannon drew a one-out, bases loaded walk in the ninth.

Cotton surrendered five runs--all earned--on six hits in six innings, but received plenty of run support and improved to 6-0.

John Wooten, who went 4-for-5 with five RBI, led five Pirates with multi-hit days.

Ford Wilson, Jacob Wilson, Derrick Thomas, and Keaton Aldridge all had two hits for Memphis.

Chase Joiner, who allowed six runs--all earned--on eight hits in 4.1 innings, suffered the loss and fell to 2-4 for the Tigers.