ECU Takes Series From N.C. State, 7-0

April 15, 2009

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Freshman Kevin Brandt tossed a career-high 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball and combined with three other hurlers as No. 17 East Carolina took the season series from in-state foe N.C. State 7-0 Wednesday night at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Brandt, who made just his second start of the season, improved to 5-1 on the year for the Pirates (27-10) allowing just three hits, fanning four and walking three. Brad Mincey faced just one batter when he entered the game in the seventh, while Bailey Daniels walked one and had a punch out in the eighth inning. Sophomore Seth Simmons closed the game by striking out the side, despite allowing a single.

Cory Mazzoni suffered the loss dropping to 1-4 after allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits with a pair of strikeouts. Joey Cutler, who was saddled with the loss in the first contest, was touched for four runs (all earned) on five hits in just one-third of an innings. A trio of Wolfpack (19-18) pitchers combined to shutdown the Pirates offense for the final 3 2/3 frames, scattering two hits.

ECU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. Jared Avchen pushed across the first run with a sac fly to center that scored Drew Schieber, who doubled to right center to start the inning. Ryan Wood drove in the second run of the frame with his second base hit of the game to left center that plated Dustin Harrington.

Trent Whitehead smacked his third home run of the season, all against N.C. State, in the fourth inning putting the Pirates up 3-0.

ECU would pad its lead, 7-0, in the fifth when it put up a four-spot thanks to consecutive RBI hits by Schieber (2 RBI double), Harrington (RBI single), Avchen (RBI single). During the frame, the Pirates reeled off five straight hits, all with one out.

The Pirates will jump back into Conference USA action this weekend when they travel to New Orleans for a three-game series against Tulane at Turchin Stadium. First pitch on Friday night is scheduled for 7 p.m. (EDT).

Post-Game Notes:

Attendance: 4,902 (Sixth largest crowd at Clark-LeClair Stadium).

ECU scored one run with two outs to push its season total to 144, which is 40.8 percent of its runs production (144-of-353).

The Pirates four-run fifth marked the 26th time this season they have scored four or more runs in an inning. ECU has now scored two or more runs 82 times this season.

With its 13 hits, the Pirates have reached the double-digit mark 30 times in 37 games.

Trent Whitehead is batting .400 (4-for-10) with three home runs, six RBI and four runs scored against the Wolfpack in two games this season.

The shutout by the Pirates is the second of the season. Back on Mar. 25 they blanked No. 26 UNC Wilmington 3-0.

Current Hit Streaks: Stephen Batts (6), Drew Schieber (6), Trent Whitehead (6).

Career Multi-Hit Games: Ryan Wood (72), Brandon Henderson (56), Drew Schieber (41), Dustin Harrington (39).

Career Multi-RBI Games: Drew Schieber (20), Dustin Harrington (18), Jared Avchen (6).

Next Event

Footer