Pirates pound Panthers, 16-1, in game one

Jharel Cotton pitches well in East Carolina debut

Jharel Cotton allowed just three hits over six shutout innings and East Carolina pounded out 17 hits—including three home runs—to blowout Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 16-1, in game one of Saturday’s twinbill in Greenville.

Following a scoreless first, the Pirates (2-0) put three on the board in the second. Chase McDonald led off the frame with an opposite field homer to right center. Milwaukee starter Mike Schneider proceeded to walk John Wooten on four straight and plunk Jay Cannon. After Tim Younger loaded the bases with an infield single, Reinheimer singled to right to plate Wooten. A groundout to second by Philip Clark increased ECU’s advantage to 3-0.

After being shutout for 11 innings between the two games, Milwaukee (0-2) finally got on the board when Derek Peake delivered a run-scoring double to left center that scored Phil Striggow. Cotton hit Striggow with one out.

The Pirates tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth via solo shots by Ben Fultz and Jay Cannon.

Leading 5-1, East Carolina capitalized on six free passes by Panther relievers—five of which were walks—to post a decisive seven spot after there were two outs in the sixth.

With two outs, Corey Thompson, Zach Wright, and Chase McDonald produced consecutive singles to make it 6-1. Blohowiak proceeded to plunk Wooten to load the bases and was lifted from the game after a two-run single by Jay Cannon extended the lead to 8-1.

After a passed ball moved Wright and McDonald into scoring position, Milwaukee’s newly inserted reliever Kaleb Engelke walked four of the next five Pirates he faced with the three of those pushing runs across. Prior to the last walk, Philip Clark produced a run scoring infield single for ECU.

The Pirates scored three more in the seventh and one in the eighth to yield the final margin.

East Carolina outhit Milwaukee, 17-3, and had 12 players collect at least one hit.

Philip Clark led four ECU players with multi-hit games. Clark finished 3-of-5 with 3 RBI. Chris Gosik, Jay Cannon, and Chase McDonald all had two hits.

Jharel Cotton allowed one run on three hits in six innings of work to earn a victory in his first start in the purple and gold. He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

Freshmen Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Bolton, and DeShorn Lake each threw an inning of hitless relief.

Milwaukee starter Mike Schneider allowed five runs—all earned—on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five while walking four.

The Panthers used five relievers, which combined to surrender 11 runs on 11 hits and eight walks in 3 1/3 innings.

> Check out our great selection of ECU Pirates apparel & merchandise!