East Carolina University
Connecticut
ECU Falls In Series Opener To UConn, 13-2
May 01, 2015 | Baseball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Carson Cross struck out nine batters over eight innings helping UConn to a 13-2 opening series win over East Carolina Friday night in American Athletic Conference action at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.
With the win the Huskies improve to 29-18 overall and 8-8 in league play, while the Pirates drop to 29-18 and 9-7.
Cross (9-2) picked up the win scattering five hits over eight full frames where he allowed two runs (both earned) with two walks. Samuel Nepiarsky added a perfect ninth frame in the win.
Evan Kruczynski (6-3) took the loss allowing seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work. Jimmy Boyd (1.1 IP) and Luke Bolka (1.0 IP) had scoreless outings, while Mason Keen (1.0 IP 3 Rs), Ross Gardner (1.0 IP, 1 R) and Cam Snow (1.0 IP, 2 Rs) each experienced action on the mound in relief.
The Huskies pounded out 19 hits and were led by Blake Davey's 4-for-6 night at the plate. Bobby Melley, Jon Testani and Willy Yahn each added three base knocks, while Jack Sundberg chipped with a pair. Davey was one of three Huskies to drive in multiple runs collecting four RBI, while Melley added three and Yahn plated two.
Kirk Morgan returned to the lineup collecting two of ECU's five hits, while Travis Watkins plated both Pirate runs with a single in the second inning.
Up Next:
ECU and UConn will continue the three-game series Saturday, May 2 with a 4 p.m. (ET) first pitch ... The final game is slated for Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. (ET).
How It Happened:
UConn jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to Davey's two-RBI double. Vinny Siena singled to right center with one out, which was followed by a Melley's infield single to third putting a pair of runners on base for Davey, who cleared the bases with a two-base hit to left center.
Three hits coupled with three ECU errors extended UConn's lead to 5-0 in the second. With two outs, Testani singled through the left side, took second on a throwing error and came around to score from second on Sundberg's RBI single. Siena followed by reaching on another error landing on second. Melley doubled to left field scoring both Sundberg and Siena.
ECU got on the board in the home half of the second on Watkins' two-RBI single to center pulling the Pirates within three, 5-2. Morgan was hit by a pitch to start the frame and took second on Eric Tyler's infield single to second. Bryce Harman loaded the bases with a walk before Watkins lone base hit of the night pushed across Morgan and Tyler.
UConn would add a pair of runs in the second, four in the eighth and two more in the ninth capping the game at 13-2.
Game Notes/ Inside the Box Score:
UConn out-hit the Pirates with two outs 8-0 on the night ... The Huskies recorded 19 hits, which were the most since William & Mary had 19 back in 2013 ... ECU managed just one hit with RISP, while UConn had 12 ... The Huskies left 11 runners on base compared to seven for the Pirates ... Hunter Allen had his 15-game hit streak snapped with an 0-for-4 night ... His streak was tied for the 15th longest in school history ... The Pirates turned their 50th double-play of the second in the top of the fifth inning ... Parker Lamm robbed Joe Deroche-Duffin of a three-run home run in the top of the ninth in left-center to end the frame ... Kirk Morgan recorded his 12th multi-hit game of the season ... Watkins collected his fifth multi-RBI contest of the year ... Brandon Saunders experienced his first action in a Pirate uniform pinch running for Charlie Yorgen in the eighth inning.
