East Carolina University
Houston
Sixth Inning Offensive Explosion Lifts ECU, 12-2
May 09, 2009 | Baseball
May 9, 2009
HOUSTON, Texas - No. 22 East Carolina (36-15, 13-7) used a six-run sixth inning, which was highlighted by three home runs, to take game two of the three-game Conference USA series against Houston (24-26, 12-8), 12-2 Saturday night at Cougar Field.
Leading 4-1 in the sixth, Kyle Roller started the scoring when he smashed his 13th homer of the season, 36th career, to dead center field that went over the 25-foot batter's eye. Devin Harris roped a one out single through the left side then stole second to move into scoring position just before Dustin Harrington lifted a Mo Wiley pitch over the left field wall extending ECU's lead to 7-1.
Drew Schieber followed Harrington's shot with a solo home run of his own to left center before Houston went with a pitching change that brought in Frank Corolla. Avchen picked up his second hit of the game when he ripped a triple to right center, his first of the season, with one out. After Whitehead was plunked by a pitch, Wood singled to left scoring Avchen and Batts reached on a fielder's choice plating Whitehead to cap the scoring at 10-1.
Seth Maness improved to 8-0 on the season after recording his sixth consecutive win going seven innings where he allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. The sophomore ace also recorded his league-best sixth win in C-USA action and 17th of his two-year career. Patrick Somers made his 17th appearance working one-third of an inning giving up one hit and walking one. Britton Cole closed out the eighth and ninth frames recording a career-high four strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.
Wes Musick fell to 4-7 after allowing four runs on eight hits with a strikeout in two innings. Wiley went 3 1/3 innings surrendering five runs on five hits with three punch outs. Corolla (2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 Ks), Jimmy Raviele (2.3 IP, 1 H) and Barry Laird (1 IP, 1 H, BB, K) closed out the game on the mound for the Cougars.
ECU took an early 1-0 lead in the first thanks to a Roller single through right side that scored Whitehead from second. Whitehead led off the game with a single to left then took second on Ryan Wood's single to right before Roller's at-bat, where Whitehead scored and Wood was gunned down at the plate by the right fielder, William Kankel.
Houston knotted the game at one in the bottom of the second on a sac fly by Chris Wallace that plated Chase Dempsay, who doubled to right field to start the frame. Zak Presley pushed Dempsay to third on a sac bunt before touching home.
ECU took a 4-1 lead in the third inning thanks four consecutive hits to start the frame. Jared Avchen singled to right then moved to third on Whitehead's double to right. Wood cleared the bases on a single to left and ended up on second on a throw to the plate. Stephen Batts drove in the final run on a single to center that pushed across Wood.
ECU added two more runs in the top half of the eighth and Houston scored one in the bottom of the frame for a final score of 12-2.
Offensively the Pirates pounded out 17 hits for its 35th double-digit game of the season. Six players recorded multi-hit games with Wood leading the way with a 3-for-5 performance at the dish. Batts led four Pirates with multiple RBIs with his four on the night, followed by Wood's three and Harrington and Roller's two each.
The Pirates and Cougars will play the rubber match of the series Sunday at 2 p.m. (EDT).
