Joyner, Pirates beat up on mistake-prone Blazers

Junior lefty turns in first career complete game

Tyler Joyner tossed a complete game four-hitter and No. 30 East Carolina earned a 12-2 series-clinching win over UAB on Saturday evening in Greenville.

The Pirates (18-8, 3-2) pushed across a run in the first.

Jack Reinheimer reached on a throwing error by shortstop Tanner Bryant and came around to score on Corey Thompson’s single to right center.

ECU exploded for five runs on five hits in its next at-bat against Blazers’ starter Ben Bulland to build a commanding 6-0 lead through two innings.

UAB (17-11, 2-3) got on the board via a Tyler Mims’ single in the fourth, but the Pirates got the run back in the bottom of the frame when Tim Younger scored on a throwing error by Bullard. Younger reached on a single and advanced on an error by right fielder Jeff Schalk.

The Blazers plated their only other run in the sixth. Ryan Ussery led off with a single, advanced to second on DeJesus’ foul out and moved to third when Frost grounded out to short. He scored with Schalk reached on a throwing error by Pirate second baseman Tim Younger.

The Pirates put the game away with a five-run eighth against UAB reliever Ruben Tresgallo. The big blow in the inning was a three-run blast to right by designated hitter Drew Reynolds.

Joyner, who improved to 4-0, struck out eight and walked just one.

Corey Thompson (3-for-5) and Zach Wright (2-for-4) were the only ECU players with multi-hit games. Seven other Pirates had one hit. Bullard, who took the loss for the Blazers to fall to 2-3, allowed seven runs—only two earned—on seven hits in five innings.

Tyler Mims went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Blazers, who managed just four hits in the game.

The series will conclude on Sunday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Clark-LeClair Stadium.