Pirates Take Series From UAB
May 11, 2003 | Baseball
GREENVILLE, N.C. ? Ryan Norwood hit a three-run home run to highlight a four-run fourth inning as East Carolina (30-21-1, 16-11) rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat UAB, 12-9, in the third game of a Conference USA baseball series here Sunday afternoon. UAB (24-25, 9-17) held on to defeat the Pirates, 12-8, in the resumption of a game suspended Saturday night and completed prior to game three.
With the victory, the Pirates earned their eighth Conference USA series win in nine attempts this season.
After being halted at 7:55 p.m. on Saturday night due to rain and lightning, the game was resumed at 12:01 p.m. Sunday afternoon with one out in the top of the sixth and the Blazers holding a 10-4 lead. ECU entered the ninth inning trailing 12-5, but scored three times in the final frame to determine the final margin. Darryl Lawhorn, Jamie Paige and Kevin O'Sullivan each recorded two hits in the game.
In the series finale, the Pirates scored four runs in a pair of innings to overtake the Blazers. After Norwood's home run gave ECU its first lead of the day in the fourth inning, the Pirates then scored four runs in the sixth to take an 11-7 lead.
A one-out single by Norwood and a walk to Lawhorn loaded the bases for ECU. UAB reliever Cody Cillo then issued back-to-back walks to Mark Minicozzi and Adam Witter to plate two runs. John Poppert then doubled down the left field line to drive in two more runs. O'Sullivan later added an insurance run in the eighth with an RBI-single.
Norwood was 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBIs, two runs scored, a home run and a double. Poppert collected three hits, including two doubles. Paige and O'Sullivan also registered two hits each.
"Our hitting has really come around for us lately," said Pirate head coach Randy Mazey. "When you're down 6-1 like we were in game three, you need hitting to help you win. Our guys came through once again."
Greg Bunn (4-5) tossed the final 5.2 innings to earn his fourth win of the season. Bunn struck out five batters, while allowing three runs on four hits. Ashley Capps started the game, but failed to make it out of the first inning and yielded to Neal Sears. Sears worked 2.2 innings and struck out two.
UAB starter Jon Burgett allowed seven runs in 3.2 innings pitched, but didn't factor in the decision as Jeff Brown (3-3) surrendered three of the Pirates' four runs in the sixth.
The Pirates will conclude the regular season with a three-game series against Tulane beginning Thursday night in New Orleans.
