Pirates Fall in Ninth to Houston, 2-1
May 21, 2003 | Baseball
NEW ORLEANS --- Game one of the 2003 Conference USA Tournament proved to be a pitcher's duel as Houston outlasted East Carolina, 2-1, in the opening round here Wendesday.
The loss was ECU's first opening-round conference tournament loss since losing to Richmond in the first round of the 1995 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.
"That was a great college baseball game and not at all unlike the three games we played against them during the regular season," said Pirate head coach Randy Mazey.
Three of the four games played between the two teams this season have been decided by one run with Houston winning a pair of those game.
"Anytime we've felt a sense of urgency this season we've responded. I expect that our guys will come out and play very well tomorrow."
Houston (32-25) advances to play the winner of the Southern Miss-Charlotte game Thursday afternoon, while the East Carolina (31-24-1) will face the loser at 10 a.m. EST tomorrow.
Greg Buchanan scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Matt Farrington in the bottom of the ninth. Freshman Travis Tully, who collected two of UH's five hits, leadoff the ninth with a single up the middle. Buchanan was put in to pinch-run for Tully and moved to third on a pair of walks issued by Glenn Tucker, the first of which was an intentional to Thomas Papvasiliou.
Trailing 1-0, ECU junior Jamie Paige hit a solo home run off UH closer Ryan Wagner (4-5) to tie the game in the eighth.
UH junior Brad Sullivan scattered four hits over 7.1 innings pitched and fanned seven and walked two. The Pirates loaded the bases against Sullivan in the fourth, but got out of the inning by striking out Jake Smith and getting Adam Witter to fly out to center field.
ECU senior right-hander Will Brinson (3-4) tossed strong eight innings and struck out a season-high eight batters, while allowing just five hits. After giving up an RBI-single to Hyung Cho in the third, Brinson retired the next 16 batters in order.
