ECU Takes Game Three, 7-5

March 14, 2009

GREENVILLE, N.C. - No. 20 East Carolina bounced back in game three of the weekend series against UCLA to record a 7-5 victory Saturday afternoon at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Pirates improve to 11-4, while UCLA falls to 5-11.

The senior quartet of Stephen Batts (1-for-4, RBI), Brandon Henderson (3-for-3, 2 RBI), Drew Schieber (2-for-4, 4 RBI) and Ryan Wood (3-for-5, 2 runs) combined to collect all nine hits and drive in all seven runs on the afternoon. Batts' lone hit came in the first inning, single to left, to extend his current hitting streak to 16 games.

Freshman Kevin Brandt (3-0) recorded his third win out of the bullpen throwing five solid innings where he gave up four runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout. Mike Wright got his first career start lasting 2 1/3 frames and surrendering just one run on one hit, while walking three and fanning one. Senior reliever Bailey Daniels shut the door on the Bruins notching three punch outs in 1 2/3 innings with one hit.

Charles Brewer (0-2) suffered the loss allowing six runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts in four innings. Brendan Lafferty (2 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 K), Garett Claypool (2/3 IP) and Matt Grace (2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 K) closed out the final four innings on the bump.

The Pirates four-run first was highlighted by Henderson's two-run homer to left center for a 4-0 lead. Wood, who registered his 64th career multi-hit game, reached on a error then took second on a Brewer failed pickoff before touched home for the games first run on Batts' RBI single through the left side. Batts advanced to third on Kyle Roller's fly ball to center and game around to score on Schieber's RBI single up the middle. Henderson took a 3-1 offering deep to left for his 24th career home run.

Alex Weber-Shapiro scored the Bruins first run of the game in the second frame when crossed home on Niko Gallego's ground out to short. Weber-Shapiro waked to open the frame then advanced to second on a wild pitch before taking third on Gabe Cohen's ground out.

Eddie Murray drew the Bruins with in two, 4-2, on a solo shot to left field with one out in the fifth.

ECU countered UCLA's runs with three of its own in the bottom of the inning taking a commanding 7-2 lead. Wood laced his second double of the contest to start the frame then Batts reached on an error setting up Schieber's three run bomb down the left field line for a five-run lead.

Cody Decker inched the Bruins closer with a three run blast to left, 7-5. Murray collected his second base hit of the game, a single to right, then took second on Casey Haerther's second base knock, this time through the left side setting up Decker's third home run of the series. <>

The Pirates will be back in action on Wednesday, Mar. 18 when they host Norfolk State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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