East Carolina University
Southern Miss
Dowdy And Ray Lead ECU Over Southern Miss, 6-3
April 29, 2007 | Baseball
April 29, 2007
Box Score |
Gallery 
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Sophomore right-hander Josh Dowdy went seven innings allowing two runs on four hits and Jamie Ray was 3-for-4 as No. 25 East Carolina beat Southern Miss 6-3 Sunday afternoon in Conference USA play at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
With the win the Pirates move to 29-15 overall and 7-7 in league action, while Southern Miss drops to 27-19 and 8-10. The Pirates also move into sole possession of fourth place in the conference standings behind Rice, Houston and Memphis.
Heading into the seventh inning, Dowdy (2-1) allowed just four runners to reach base (two hits and two errors) through seven before giving up single to Jordan King and a double to Eddie Burger to start the eighth inning. Shane Mathews came in to close the game working two innings allowing one run on four hits.
David Clark last 4 2/3 innings giving up four runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts before giving way to Tyler Conn in the fifth. Conn went 1 1/3 inning allowing one run on two hits. Jonathan Johnston came in to relieve Conn in the seventh inning working the final two frames allowing one run on two hits.
Kyle Roller wasted little time in getting the Pirates on the board as he belted his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field, to highlight a three-run second inning, 3-0. With one out, Stephen Batts reached on an infield single then scored on Roller's blast. Corey Kemp followed by reaching on a throwing error by Brian Dozier and then touched home on Jamie Ray's triple to left-center.
ECU increased its lead to four, 4-0, when Kemp laced a double to right field that scored Tousley in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tousley drew a one out walk then advanced to second when Roller walked and came around to score on Kemp's lone hit of the day.
The Pirates plated two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to push the lead to 6-0. Tousley singled to left field to start the frame then advanced to second on Batts' sacrifice bunt and scored on Roller's single up the middle. Kemp followed by reaching on another Golden Eagles error. Drew Schieber capped the scoring with a single through the right side that pushed Roller home.
Southern Miss finally got on the board in the top of the eighth cutting the Pirates lead to 6-2. Jordan King singled to lead off the ninth inning then was lifted for pinch runner Chris Matesich, who advanced to third on Eddie Burger's double down the left field line. Matesich scored on a Mathews' wild pitch and Burger touched home on Dozier's ground out to second.
Dozier drew Southern Miss within three, 6-3, when he ripped a double down the right field line that scored Bailey Hartel from second.
Offensively the Pirates pounded out ten hits with Ray collecting three and Roller with two. Ryan Wood extended his hit streak to nine games while Batts improved his to ten.
ECU will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Houston for a pivotal three-game C-USA series. First pitch for Friday night's game is scheduled for 8 p.m. (EDT) and will also be aired on CSTV.
