East Carolina University
Marshall
Herd Tops Pirates In Game Three, 10-3
May 02, 2010 | Baseball
May 2, 2010
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Arik Sikula struck out a career-best eight and allowed one run over six innings as Marshall took game three of the Conference USA series against East Carolina 10-3 Sunday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium. With the win The Herd improved to 21-24 overall and 10-8 in league play, while the Pirates dropped to 27-18 and 8-7.
Sikula (6-2) was impressive in his sixth start of the season holding the Pirates to just one run on five hits, which came in the first inning on a wild pitch. He struck out at least one batter in four of six innings including the side in the first frame. Kyle Blank worked two-thirds of an inning giving up two runs (both earned) on two hits, while Ryan Kiel faced one batter in the seventh. Tyler Gatrell (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 Ks) and Austin Coan (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) closed out the final 2 1/3 frames.
Kevin Brandt (3-6) struggled in his second straight start allowing five runs (all earned) on six hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts in 2 1/3 inning. Shawn Armstrong appeared in his 16th game of the season giving up one run on four hits in 3 2/3 innings. Jake Harris continued to impress out of the bullpen tossing an inning of shutout relief, while Seth Simmons (1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R) and Brad Mincey (0.1 IP) worked the final two innings.
The Pirates jumped all over Sikula in the bottom of the first reeling off three consecutive singles by Trent Whitehead, Corey Thompson and Kyle Roller. Whitehead put ECU up 1-0 when he scored on Sikula wild pitch, before the junior right-hander fanned Devin Harris, striking out the side.
Marshall put up a five spot in the third to take a commanding 5-1 lead and never looked back. With one out and runners on first and second, Kurt Lipton doubled to right field scoring Kirby Pellant. Victory Gomez loaded the bases on an intentional walk and James Lavinskas followed with a two-RBI single to left. After Armstrong spelled Brant, Rhett Stafford singled through the left side pushing across Gomez.
Lipton extended Marshall's lead, 6-1, with a RBI single in the fourth. Pellant reached on John Wooten's fielding error and moved into scoring position on Ben Jurevicius' sac bunt before coming home on Lipton's base knock to center.
Thompson's two-run homer in the seventh drew the Pirates within three, 6-3. With two outs, Whitehead singled to left and Thompson uncorked on a 2-1 offering from Blank down the right field line, his sixth homer of the season.
Marshall put the game out of reach in the ninth scoring four runs on three hits taking a 10-3 lead. Lavinskas singled through the left side scoring Pellant and Thor Meeks drew a bases loaded walk bringing home Isaac Ballou. The final two runs came on a wild pitch and a Josh Valle single down the left field line.
Offensively ECU recorded 10 hits with Thompson leading the way after a 4-for-5 performance from the dish. Whitehead was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and Roller was 1-for-1 with a season-high four walks.
The Pirates will take the week off for exams before returning to the diamond Friday night when they travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. for a three-game tilt against Southern Miss.
