Pirates Fall To Camels In 8 Innings, 12-8

April 14, 2009

Scoring Correction: After consulting with the NCAA, per Rule 5, Section 8-b-3 of the NCAA Rule Book (Page 60), the eighth inning statistics for both teams will count in the game and Campbell is awarded a 12-8 victory in the eighth inning.

GREENVILLE, N.C. - After an official 35 minute rain delay, the Campbell Camels walked away from Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium with a 12-8 win over No. 17 East Carolina Tuesday in eight innings.

Trailing 12-7 heading into the eighth, ECU (26-10) retired Campbell (17-15) in the top of the frame just before making a possible rally in the bottom half of the inning. After a Kyle Roller home run cut the lead to four, 12-8, the Pirates loaded the bases with no outs and Drew Schieber at the dish representing the tying run. But after the rain delay and shortly after 10 p.m. the officials called the game in the eighth inning handing the Pirates their fifth loss in the last six games.

Jonathan Lopez picked up his second win of the year and improved to 2-3 after working 2 2/3 innings of relief where he allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Starter Daniel Gardo lasted just 1 2/3 innings giving up four runs, while Logan Davis tossed two scoreless innings. Hunter Ford entered the game in the seventh working the final two-thirds of an inning.

Michael Anderson (0-1) was saddled with the loss lasting just 1 1/3 frames where he gave up six runs on six hits with a walk. The Pirates used a plethora of arms to try and stop the Camels potent offense going through six pitchers on the night. Mike Wright allowed two runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings, Sthil Sowers went just one frame giving up three runs on four hits, Patrick Somers has the most effective outing for the Pirate hurlers pitching two scoreless innings with a pair of punch outs. Lance Honeycutt (0.1 IP) and Britton Cole (0.2 IP) closed out the seventh inning on the bump.

Already ahead 6-4 in the fourth frame, Zach Johnson unleashed on a Sowers 2-1 offering and put the Camels up 9-4 for the game-winning run. Ells Lowe single through the left side to start the inning, then promptly stole second and moved to third on a fielder's choice before Johnson's 10th jack of the season.

Campbell took an early 1-0 lead in the first thanks to a RBI single by Johnson to center that plated Carlton Floyd from second.

The Pirates answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, taking a 2-1 lead. Ryan Wood laced the first of two doubles with one out then came around to score on Stephen Batts' double to left center knotting the game at one. Brandon Henderson continued his hot hitting plating Batts with two outs on an RBI single through the right side.

Lowe highlighted a five-run second inning for Campbell with a three-run shot to left field, his third of the year taking a commanding 6-2 lead. D.J. Johnson and Chris Bangi recorded back-to-back singles setting up the long ball off the bat of Lowe.

ECU pushed across a pair of runs in the second to pull within two, 6-4. Dustin Harrington smacked the first of his two home runs, a solo shot to left with one out. Zach Wright followed with a single to left before being picked off at first. With two men down, Trent Whitehead singled up the middle then moved to third on Wood's second double of the night. Whitehead crossed home on a wild pitch walk for the second run of the frame.

Campbell would score a run in both the fifth and seventh frames, while the Pirates plated three in the seventh to cap the score at 12-7. Harrington hit his second homer of the night, a two-run round-tripper, just before Wright tripled to right-center. Whitehead recorded his fourth base knock of the evening up the middle driving home Wright.

Offensively, the Pirates reached double-digits in hits for the 29th time this season with their 15 base knocks. Five different Pirate hitters recorded multiple hits including Whitehead's team-best four. Wood, who was 2-for-3 at the plate, set a school record for career walks with his two free passes passing former ECU standout Harrison Eldrige for the all-time lead with 130.

The Pirates will be back on the diamond Wednesday night when they play host to in-state rival N.C. State with a first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. (EDT).

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