East Carolina University
Youngstown State
Younger's Single In Ninth Lifts ECU, 1-0
February 19, 2011 | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2011
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ECU 1, YSU 0 
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Highlights l Post-Game Comments
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Second baseman Tim Younger drove a 3-1 pitch to right field scoring Philip Clark from third in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel East Carolina (2-0) to a 1-0 victory over Youngstown State (0-2) Saturday afternoon at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Younger, a Junior College transfer from St. Petersburg College, made his only official at-bat count when he stepped to the plate with runners on the corner and no outs in the ninth. Clark drew a walk to start the frame and moved into scoring position after stealing second. True freshman Jack Reinheimer atoned for his error in the top half of the inning when he beat out a throw to first on a bunt single setting up Younger's game-winning hit.
In a pitcher's duel that saw both staffs combine for 20 strikeouts, ECU junior Kevin Brandt (1-0) pitched four innings of near perfect relief allowing just two of 14 hitters to reach base (walk and hit) while striking out five for his first win of the season and seventh career win out of the bullpen. Starter Zach Woods scattered three hits and punched out six in five innings of work before handing the ball over to Brandt.
Nic Manuppelli (0-1) suffered the loss out of the pen giving up one run on two hits with three walks an a pair of strikeouts in two innings. Penguin starter Kevin McCulloh held he Pirate bats in check through six frames giving up just three hits with seven strikeouts, while issuing three free passes.
Both teams had ample opportunities to score as they combined to leave 15 runners on base. ECU's best chance came in the sixth stanza when Clark stepped to the dish with the bases juiced lining a shot to second where Padraic Williams flipped the ball over to shortstop David Leon forcing Zach Wright out at second.
The second inning was filled with excitement as both squads missed a chance to get on the board. In the top half of the frame, the Pirates got some help from the third base umpire Reid Churchill when he was drilled by a line shot off the bat of Williams, denying the Penguins of a run. Jonathan Crist walked to start the inning and took second on a sac bunt from designated hitter Greg Dissinger. After Woods fanned Neil Schroth for the second out, Williams laced a shot towards short that hit Churchill in the side for a single and keeping Crist at second base. Woods ended the threat when Armani Johnson struck out swinging.
In ECU's bottom half of the second, Wright was thrown out at home trying to score on a Clark's sac bunt attempt. Wright recorded his first hit of the season when he roped a double to start the inning down the left field line. Freshman Chase McDonald followed with a single through the left side putting runners on the corners. Clark reached on fielder's choice after failing to lay a bunt down the first base line, but instead sent it back to the McCulloh, who pitched it to Crist halting the Pirates best opportunity to score.
The Pirates will look to complete the sweep Sunday afternoon when the two teams return to the field for a 1 p.m. (ET) first pitch.
Post-Game Notes:
- Attendance: 4,113 (19th largest crowd at Clark-LeClair Stadium)
- Game Ball: Went to Kevin Brandt, who picked up his first win of the year after working 4.0 scoreless innings of relief with five strikeouts ... He improved to 7-1 all-time as a reliever ... Friday's game ball went to Tim Younger.
- Billy Godwin picked up his 458th career win and 195th as the Pirates skipper.
- The Pirates are 2-0 for just the second time since the 2004 season (also 2-0 in 2009).
- Jack Reinheimer, Chase McDonald and Younger each recorded hits in their second-straight game as a Pirate.
- The walk-off win is the first since April 18, 2010 when the Pirates topped UAB 6-5 in 12 innings.
- In two games the Pirates pitching staff owns a 1.50 ERA and has stuck out 18 batters, while walking just five.
