Pirates Win First Game Saturday Versus Billikens, 9-5
May 21, 2005 | Baseball
GREENVILLE, N.C.--East Carolina won their seventh straight Conference USA series with a 9-5 win Saturday over Saint Louis in a game that was resumed at noon after rain suspended play Friday night. The Pirates (34-21, 18-11) and the Billikens (12-40, 7-22) picked up play in the bottom of the sixth in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader with ECU leading 7-3.
ECU starter Kevin Rhodes went just 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits while walking one SLU batter. Scott Andrews went 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two and walking one before the suspension. Cody Leggett started on the hill Saturday in the top of the seventh, allowing two runs on two hits in three innings of work.
Four Pirates finished with two hits in the game. Mark Minicozzi and Ryan Peisel combined on five RBI while Minicozzi and Drew Costanzo each scored two runs.
ET Ratte-Delorme started for SLU and allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings of work. Ratte-Delorme struck out five while walking two in a no-decision. Mark Zielinski suffered the loss for Saint Louis, allowing three runs on three hits in just 1/3 inning.
Pat Steinhoff led the Billiken offense, going 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Johnny Sweeney and Scott Peden also finished with two hits for SLU.
Costanzo's triple to right-center in the bottom of the second scored Minicozzi from first and a Ryan Peisel sacrifice fly to right plated Costanzo to put the Pirates ahead 2-0 after two.
Peden's RBI single to left brought home Steinhoff from third for the Billikens' first run of the ballgame in the third. Sweeney tied the game up when he scored the second run of the inning on an Andrew's wild pitch.
After the delay, SLU took the lead when a Tim Landy double to right-center scored Bill Musselman from second.
The Pirates took the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Minicozzi hit a two-run double to right-center, scoring Dale Mollenhauer from second and Adam Witter from first. Peisel then pushed the lead to 6-3 with a towering two-run shot to left, scoring Minicozzi from third before Mike Grace followed Peisel with a line drive home run down the line in left for the seventh run of the game. After play resumed Saturday, ECU loaded the bases before Mollenhauer's ground out to second scoring Eldridge from third, giving ECU an 8-3 lead after six.
Eldridge brought home Costanzo from second in seventh with a single to right for the Pirates' ninth run of the game.
Steinhoff belted a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to close the scoring at 9-5.
Game three of the series will start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the second game of the series. Prior to the first pitch, there will be a stadium dedication honoring contributing donors to the stadium campaign as well as Senior Day ceremonies for five Pirates.
