Pirates squeak past Stony Brook, 2-1

East Carolina takes series with second straight one-run victory

Tyler Joyner turned in another solid start and East Carolina managed to earn a 2-1 series-clinching victory over Stony Brook on Saturday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The Pirates (7-2) were outhit, 8-4, by the Sea Wolves, but manufactured single runs in the first and seventh to secure the win.

Stony Brook (4-2) threatened in the first after receiving two-out singles from William Carmona and Max Tissenbaum, but Joyner retired Krause on a groundout to end the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, leadoff man Jack Reinheimer reached on an error and Bryan Bass followed with a walk. After Thompson struck out, John Wooten delivered a run-scoring single to left.

The Sea Wolves evened the score in the third. Travis Jankowski led off with a double to left center. He was still at second with two down, but Tissenbaum walked to set up Krause’s game-tying single.

Stony Brook starter Brandon McNitt sat down 12 straight before the Pirates’ Tim Younger drew a one out walk in the fifth. Philip Clark followed with a one-out single before Bryan Bass walked with two outs to load the bases for Corey Thompson. However, McNitt managed to escape the jam by getting Thompson to fly out to right.

After Jay Cannon led off East Carolina’s half of the seventh with a double down the right field line, he moved to third when Younger grounded out to second. Then, Clark came through with a sac fly to left center to give the Pirates a 2-1 advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Sea Wolves did get the potential tying-run to second with one out in the eighth, as Tissenbaum led off with a single and Krause bunted him into scoring position. However, ECU reliever Tanner Merritt retired Peragine and Nivins to preserve the lead.

ECU missed an opportunity to add an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. Stony Brook centerfielder Travis Jankowski opted to lay out for John Wooten’s sinking liner and the ball went to the warning track for what was ruled a triple, but Zach Wright proceeded to pop out to second.

Pirates’ closer Drew Reynolds retired the first two batters he faced in the ninth before walking leadoff man Travis Jankowski. However, the reliable Reynolds got Cantwell to ground out to notch his fifth save of the young season.

Tyler Joyner scattered seven hits and allowed just one run in his second career start. After surrendering five hits in the first three frames, the Sea Wolves’ managed just two hits over the last 3.1 innings versus the southpaw.

Tanner Merritt turned in another solid set-up effort and allowed just a hit in 1.2 innings.

John Wooten went 2-for-4 to lead the Pirates at the plate.

Max Tissenbaum was 2-for-3 with a walk to post the only multi-hit performance for Stony Brook.

Sea Wolves’ starter Brandon McNitt was the tough luck loser, as he was saddled with the loss despite allowed just two runs—one earned—on four hits in eight innings. He struck out four and walked three.

The teams will conclude their series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

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