ECU Takes Game Three And Series From Southern Miss
May 04, 2003 | Baseball
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Glenn Tucker pitched eight innings of scoreless relief to lead East Carolina past No. 19 Southern Miss for a second consecutive day in Conference USA baseball action, 7-3. The victory marked the Pirates' seventh series win in eight C-USA series this season.
"These guys have gotten used to winning," said Pirate head coach Randy Mazey. "They know how to play hard and in the seventh, eighth, and ninth inning they find a way to win these games."
Freshman Kevin Rhodes made his first career start on the mound for the Pirates and tossed a scoreless first, but didn't make it out of the second. Clint King homered off Rhodes to leadoff the second inning, as the Golden Eagles scored all three of its runs during the frame. The next two batters each reached safely before Tucker was brought into the game. A double and sacrifice fly allowed the next two USM runs to score, but Tucker struck out two batters in the inning to avoid any further damage.
Tucker (4-2) retired the Golden Eagles in order in five of eight innings pitched and didn't allow more than one hit in any inning. He struck out seven batters and didn't issue a base on balls to pick up his fourth win of the year.
ECU (28-20-1, 14-10) responded with two runs in its half of the second to cut into the USM (36-13, 18-6) lead. Darryl Lawhorn led off with his first of two doubles on the day. Adam Witter drew a one-out walk and Mark Minicozzi followed with an RBI double to left field. Kevin O'Sullivan then drove in Witter from third with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Minicozzi then tied the game in the fifth with a solo home run, his second in as many days.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth when O'Sullivan singled to left field to plate Lawhorn from second. O'Sullivan, Minicozzi and Witter each drove in two runs, while Lawhorn and Minicozzi both collected a pair of hits.
ECU expanded its lead in the seventh inning with three runs. After Paige scored on a ground ball to shortstop, Witter delivered a two-run bases loaded single through the right side to give the Pirates a four-run cushion.
Stephen Castleman (5-2) suffered his second loss of the season, allowing four runs on five his with three walks in 5.2 innings pitched.
