East Carolina University
Elon
Kruczynski And Long Ball Lift Pirates, 10-3
March 13, 2015 | Baseball
ELON, N.C. - Evan Kruczynski tossed seven solid innings, while Luke Lowery, Bryce Harman and Charlie Yorgen each belted home runs helping East Carolina to a series opening 10-3 win over Elon Friday afternoon at Walter C. Latham Park.
With the win the Pirates move to 11-6 on the year, while the Phoenix fall to 8-7. The victory also extends ECU's current win streak to nine-straight in the instate series.
Kruczynski (4-1) picked up his fourth-straight win of the season scattering three runs (two earned) on nine hits over seven full frames with a pair of strikeouts. Reid Love made his fifth appearance out of the bullpen retiring all three batters he faced in the eighth inning, which extended his current streak to 15-straight retired batters. Ross Gardner closed the game with a scoreless ninth recording a ground out and a pair of fly-outs.
Matt Harris (2-1) took the loss allowing seven runs (all earned) on 10 hits with four strikeouts. Mike Krill allowed run in two frames, while Tyler Manez surrendered two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Sean Byrnes faced two batters recording one out.
ECU posted double-digit hits for the eighth time this season - third straight game - getting multiple hits from Harman (2), Lowery (3), Kirk Morgan (3) and Eric Tyler (2). Harman and Lowery each added a pair of runs and drove in three, while Morgan scored two runs and Yorgen collected a pair of RBI.
UP NEXT:
ECU and Elon will continue the three-game non-conference series Saturday, Mar. 14 at Latham Park. Game time has been pushed back to a 4:30 p.m. (ET) due to rain in the area. The final game of the weekend is still scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch Sunday afternoon.
How It Happened:
Holding a slim 3-2 lead going to the top of the fifth, ECU plated four runs to extend its lead to five, 7-2. Harman laced a two-out, two RBI triple to left center off of Harris scoring Kirk Morgan and Garrett Brooks, who both singled before Harman's second extra base hit. Lowery continued the inning following with his league-leading sixth home run when he sent a full-count offering from Harris over the left center wall plating Harman.
Inside The Box Score:
ECU was 4-for-10 with RISP and landed its leadoff hitter on base four times ... Harman (2) and Lowery (3) combined for all five of the Pirates two-out RBI ... Seven of ECU's 10 runs came off of extra base hits with four via the long ball.
Game Notes:
Yorgen extended his hit streak (11 games) and reaching base safely (17) when he smacked his first career home run in the top of the first inning ... Travis Watkins hit streak moved to eight games with a 1-for-4 effort at the plate ... Harman belted his first homer of the season (eighth career), recorded his seventh multi-hit game (18th career) and third multi-RBI contest (eighth career) after going 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored ... Lowery hit his league-leading sixth home run (two-run shot) and extended his current streak with at least one RBI to nine games (10 of 12) ... His three-hit performance pushed his season total to six multi-hit contests (25th career), while his three RBI marked the sixth multi-RBI game of the season and 13th of his career ... Kruczynski registered his fourth quality start of the season allowing three runs (two unearned) in seven innings of work.
