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Thursday, April 12, 2007

WILMINGTON, NC—Both games between East Carolina and UNCW this season were delayed, but both were well worth the wait (at least for the Pirates).

East Carolina freshman Mike Anderson turned in a second consecutive solid mid-week start for the Pirates. PHOTO: Bob Powell

Two weeks ago, East Carolina rallied from an 8-0 second inning deficit to defeat UNCW, 11-10, in 10 innings in Greenville. The Pirates won that contest, which was delayed 45 minutes due to a hailstorm, despite allowing 17 hits.

Last night’s game, which was pushed back to 8 p.m. due to rain, was a pitcher’s duel. The Pirates trailed 2-1 after seven innings, but scored single runs in the final two frames to collect a hard fought 3-2 victory over the Seahawks at Brooks Field.

With the win, ECU improved to 22-12 overall and broke its four-game losing streak. During their recent skid, the Pirates struggled to hold leads and win close ball games. They reversed that trend on Wednesday night and head to Marshall for a key CUSA series with some momentum.

The Pirates’ success against the Seahawks was largely due to another sound start by freshman righty Mike Anderson. Anderson, who has started three times this season, limited UNCW to two runs (one earned) on three hits in 6.1 innings of action. He struck out two and walked one. By getting his club into the 7th inning, the Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.-native didn’t place excessive strain on what has been extremely taxed Pirate bullpen.

UNCW (16-20) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Justin Barefoot led off with a triple to right field that was just out of Ryan Tousley’s reach. He scored on Dale Mollenhauer’s throwing error of a hard hit ball by the Seahawks’ Matt Holt.

The Seahawks carried that advantage into the sixth. However, the Pirates were able to push across an unearned run in the frame to knot things at one. Catcher David Forbes doubled and would score when UNCW second baseman Matt Holt booted Harrison Eldridge’s high chopper.

UNCW starter Andrew Morgan, who held the Pirate bats to a single run and four hits in 5.1 innings of work, struck out five while walking only one. However, he would receive the no decision.

Jesse Haney was called on to extinguish the fire in the sixth. He put it out by getting ECU’s Brandon Henderson to ground into a 1-6-3 inning ending double play.

However, the Seahawks responded in the seventh. After using an infield single, an error and a walk to load the bases, UNCW head coach Mark Scalf decided to pinch-hit with Shane French. French drew a walk from ECU reliever Mike Flye, forcing in the go-ahead run while making the score, 2-1. However, lefty Josh Ruhlman entered and held the Pirates’ deficit at one.

Pinch-hitter Jake Dean led off the top of the eighth by singling up the middle. ECU head coach Billy Godwin elected to run for Dean with the speedy Jamie Ray. Ray would plate the tying run on Harrison Eldridge’s sacrifice fly.

After holding UNCW off the board in the eighth, the Pirates received a one-out single from Brandon Henderson in the ninth. The ECU left fielder proceeded to steal second base and came around to score on Ryan Wood’s single off Seahawks’ reliever Allen Flood.

Following three rough outings in the last few days, the Pirates’ closer Shane Mathews looked more like his usual self in this one. He did allow a hit and a walk, but struck out one while notching his CUSA-leading ninth save.

Josh Ruhlman, who did not allow a hit in his 1.2 innings of work, picked up the win and improved to 2-0 on the year.

The Pirates will be back in action on Friday night when they travel to Charleston, WV to begin their three-game set with CUSA foe Marshall. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (EST) at Appalachian Power Park.