Brandt, Pirates blank Stony Brook, 1-0, in series opener

ECU senior southpaw secures second victory of season

Kevin Brandt allowed just four hits over eight shutout innings, and Corey Thompson’s sac fly in the sixth produced the only run East Carolina needed as it posted a 1-0 win in its series opener with Stony Brook on Friday night.

The Pirates (6-2) were unable to muster a hit through three frames against Sea Wolves’ starter Tyler Johnson.

Meanwhile, Brandt retired the first seven batters he faced before Stony Brook’s Sal Intagliata singled with one out in the third.

William Carmona and Max Tissenbaum delivered back-to-back one out singles in the fourth—the first significant scoring threat for either team—but Brandt was the beneficiary of a inning ending double play when Philip Clark made a sliding catch in right field and doubled off Carmona at second.

ECU had its first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the inning. After Corey Thompson broke up the no-hitter with a two-out single, he advanced to second via a Johnson wild pitch. However, Thompson was stranded after Wooten grounded out.

The Pirates used consecutive singles by Clark and Reinheimer and a walk to Bryan Bass to load the bases with one out in the sixth. Thompson followed with a sac fly to deep left that plated Clark.

Stony Brook (4-1), which suffered its first loss of the season, had baserunners with less than two outs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings as well, but couldn’t push anything across.

Up 1-0 through eight, ECU inserted closer Drew Reynolds to seal the deal. He allowed a leadoff single to Pat Cantwell, but proceeded to strike out Carmona and got Tissenbaum to ground into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play en route to recording his fourth save.

Jack Reinheimer and Philip Clark had two-hit games for the Pirates, who outhit the Sea Wolves, 6-5.

Stony Brook starter Tyler Johnson scattered six hits through eight innings. He didn’t strike out a batter and walked two.

The three-game set will continue on Saturday when East Carolina and Stony Brook square off in game two. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

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