Pirates Pull Away From Camels in Ninth, 6-3
April 15, 2003 | Baseball
BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- East Carolina scored three runs in the ninth to break a 3-3 tie and defeated Campbell, 6-3, at Taylor Field Tuesday night. The Pirates pounded out 13 hits and improved to 14-1-1 when collecting 10 or more hits in a game this season.
Trailing by a run at the start of the third, ECU (24-12-1) scored a single run in the frame and then added another in fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Kevin O'Sullivan doubled to leadoff the third and later scored on a base hit by Ryan Norwood.
Ben Sanderson plated the Pirates' second run of the evening on a base hit by Jamie Paige that squeaked by shortstop Tom Rispoli. Sanderson was hit by a pitch with one out and moved over to second on a passed ball before scoring from second base.
Campbell (14-22) put together a two-out rally in the fifth to knot the game at 2-all. Kyle Ellenz drew a leadoff walk and then advanced to third on sacrifice bunt and a fly-out. Sal Deanda then singled back up the middle to drive in the run.
After yielding a leadoff single to Ellenz in the seventh, ECU starter Jason Neitz was lifted in favor senior right-hander Glenn Tucker. With the Norwood playing in at first base, Derrick Wiley slapped the ball through the right side to put runners at the corners with no outs. Jeff Blick then lifted a fly ball into right field and Ellenz just beat the throw home by Brian Cavanuagh to score the go-ahead run.
The Pirates tied the game for the third time with a run in next half-inning. Three walks by two Campbell pitchers and a pinch-hit single by Mike DeJesus knotted the game at three. Cavanaugh drew a leadoff walk and then plated the tying run on a bases loaded walk to Paige.
The first four ECU batters all reached safely in the top of the night to start the rally. Witter singled, Norwood was beaned for the second time in the game, and Mark Minicozzi dropped a bunt single along the third base line to move both runners up. Rispoli, who was inserted to pitch in the eighth, threw the ball away trying to get Minicozzi at first and allowed Witter to score the game-winning run. Norwood and Minicozzi then both scored on ball hit off the shin of Rispoli by Cavanaugh.
Campbell brought the tying run to plate in the ninth, but Greg Bunn struck out the side to earn his seventh save of the season.
Tucker (3-1) picked up the victory, allowing no runs and just two hits in two innings of work. Rispoli (0-2) was saddled with the loss for Campbell.
ECU played without the services of sophomore Darryl Lawhorn, who was withheld from tonight's game to concentrate on academics.
East Carolina returns home to face North Carolina Wednesday night. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start at Harrington Field.
