Pirates Wrap Up UNCA Series with 6-2 Win
February 15, 2004 | Baseball
ECU (3-0) picked up in the bottom of the sixth from Saturday's suspended game two of a doubleheader. John Poppert singled and advanced to second on Ryan Jones' sacrifice bunt. Billy Richardson's sacrifice fly to left field plated Poppert for the 6-2 lead. UNC Asheville loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on a single and two walks. Powell struck out David Williams to end the game for the Pirates.
The Pirates used three home runs, two by Ryan Norwood, to take a 4-1 lead after the first three innings Saturday. ECU scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jamie Paige led off the game with a single to left field. Trevor Lawhorn followed with his first career home run, a two-run shot, to left field giving ECU the 2-0 advantage. Norwood followed with his first home run of the season for the final run of the inning. UNCA cut into the ECU lead when Ben Padgett scored on an error by the shortstop as the Bulldogs pulled within 3-1. Norwood's second home run of the game in the bottom of the third gave ECU a 4-1 lead.
Nick Jaksa's home run in the top of the fourth pulled the Bulldogs within 4-2. Darryl Lawhorn's first home run of the season pushed ECU back ahead in the bottom of the fifth.
P.J. Connelly picked up the win in relief of Ricky Brooks. Connelly struck out one and alllowed one hit. Brooks struck out six Bulldogs in 3.2 innings and gave up the two earned runs. Kevin Rhodes threw one scoreless inning on Saturday.
Flye took over in the top of the seventh and struck out two Bulldogs. Powell relieved Flye and struck out one in one inning of work. Granville Gehris took the loss for the Bulldogs. He allowed five runs in five innings while striking out four.
Paige was 2-for-3 with one run scored for the Pirates while Norwood finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. David Williams, Nick Jaksa, Charles Pippitt, Josh Coyle, Ben Kerr and Ben Padgett each had one hit for UNCA.
ECU returns to action Wednesday when they host Campbell at 3 p.m. at Harrington Field.
