East Carolina University
Tulane (C-USA Tournament)
Tulane Nips East Carolina 2-1 In 10 Innings
May 26, 2006 | Baseball
May 26, 2006
HOUSTON, Texas - Warren McFadden's one-out single in the top of the 10th inning scored Matt Riser with the game-winning run as Tulane posted a 2-1 victory over East Carolina and eliminated the Pirates from the 2006 Conference USA Baseball Championships at Reckling Park Friday afternoon.
McFadden, who was hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts prior to the game-winner, delivered a bouncing single up the middle that barely eluded newly-inserted second baseman Drew Schieber to score Riser from second base for the eventual win. Riser, who started the top of the 10th with a single against ECU reliever T.J. Hose, moved to second on Cat Everett's sacrifice bunt. After intentionally walking Mark Hamilton, Hose quickly restored order by getting Nathan Southard to tap into a double play.
The Pirates (33-26) got a two-out single from Jake Smith in the bottom half of the 10th but Adam Witter grounded out to second base to end the contest.
The loss spoiled a stellar performance by ECU starter Shane Matthews, who scattered eight hits and allowed one run in a career-high eight and one-third innings of work - topping his previous personal-best of eight innings against Stony Brook back on June 5, 2004 during the NCAA Kinston Regional. In addition, he struck out seven and walked just three during his 124-pitch outing.
The Pirates jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Tulane starter Billy Mohl in the bottom of the second inning when Ryan Tousley and Stephen Batts opened the frame with consecutive singles into leftfield. Batts moved to second on Jake Dean's fielder's choice before scoring on Jay Mattox' sharp grounder through the left side of the infield.
The Green Wave (41-18) used a two-out rally in the top of the fourth to even the contest as four consecutive hitters reached base against Mathews. Hamilton singled and Southard walked before Brad Emaus extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a run-producing double to the leftfield corner. After the Pirates elected to intentionally walk Tim Guidry to load the bases, Mathews escaped further damage by retiring Seth Henry on a ground out.
Tulane mounted a threat in its half of the ninth when Emaus stroked a one-out double down the rightfield line before Mathews issued an intentional walk to Guidry. Hose was summoned out of the bullpen for his fourth relief appearance of the season and snuffed out the rally by getting Henry to flyout to center and pinch hitter Nate Simon to ground out to first baseman Stephen Batts.
Hose (3-4) suffered the loss after surrendering a run on a pair of hits in an inning and two-thirds of work.
Mohl worked the first six innings for the Green Wave, giving up just one run on seven hits while walking three and fanning four. Daniel Latham (5-3) picked up the win for Tulane after turning in an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief after following a similar effort from Trey Martin, who didn't allow a run in two-plus innings.
The Pirates will now await word on their bid for an eighth-straight NCAA Regional appearance when the 64-team bracket for the 2006 Division I Baseball Championship is announced by ESPN on Monday, May 29 at 12:30 p.m.
ECU Post-Game Notes
