East Carolina University
Memphis
Brandt Strikes Out Career-Best 11 In Win
April 11, 2010 | Baseball
April 11, 2010
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Sophomore Kevin Brandt struck out a career-best 11 batters and tossed his first career complete game helping No. 27 East Carolina to a 3-2 win over Memphis and its first Conference USA series win of the season. With the win the Pirates improve to 20-12 overall and 3-3 in league play, while the Tigers drop to 14-18 and 5-4.
Brandt (3-4), who picked up his third win of the season, retired 19 of the last 20 Tigers he faced with Trey Wiedman reaching on an error with two outs in the ninth. From the third inning on, Brandt fanned seven batters including Adam McClain to end the game. Brandt allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits without allowing a walk.
Memphis' pitching staff was equally impressive retiring 21 Pirates in a row from the fifth inning on when Kyle Roller reached on an infield single to short. Ryan Holland suffered the loss allowing three runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings. Dane Sharp held ECU in check giving up one hit with six punch outs in 4 1/3 frames. Heath Hatfield tossed two innings of no-hit ball with a pair of strikeouts.
ECU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on Kyle Roller's double to right center scoring Corey Thompson from first. Thompson drew a one-out walk then came home on Roller's 12th double of the year.
Memphis responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the first frame tying the game at one. Chad Zurcher doubled down the left field line with one out and came around to score on Tyler Huelsing's single to right field.
Jared Avchen's double to left center gave ECU a 3-1 lead in the second. Devin Harris and Philip Clark registered back-to-back singles before Cam Freeman reached on a fielder's choice putting runners on the corner for Avchen, who stroked a first pitch offering from Holland.
Huelsing pulled the Tigers within one, 3-2, in the third on a sac fly to center that scored Zurcher, who singled to left field and advanced to third on an error by Zach Wright.
The Pirates will be back in action on Tuesday, April 13 when they play host to Campbell with a 6 p.m. (EDT) first pitch scheduled.
