ECU Take Game One In Lubbock Super Regional, 8-6

Friday, June 10

Lubbock, Texas

8:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

38-21-1

Texas Tech University

44-18

East Carolina

Texas Tech

June 11, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

June 11, 2016

Box Score l ECU Post-Game Notes l Post-Game Quotes l Game Highlights

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Travis Watkins hit a pair of home runs including his second career grand slam lifting East Carolina to an 8-6 win over No. 5 National Seed Texas Tech Friday night at Dan Law Field inside Rip Griffin Park in front of a record-setting crowd of 4,817 in super regional action.

With the win, the Pirates improve to 38-21-1 on the season, 4-0 in NCAA Tournament play and are one win away from advancing to the 2016 College World Series (CWS). The Red Raiders dropped to 44-18 on the year and need to win the next two games to make its second CWS in the last three years.

Evan Kruczynski (8-1) picked up the win allowing three runs (all earned) on six hits while walking a career-high five and fanning six in 5.1 innings. Matt Bridges locked down his second save of the year tossing 2.2 scoreless frames with a career-high six strikeouts, which included four-straight to start his outing. Sam Lanier was touched for three runs (all earned) with a walk and two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning.

Davis Martin (9-1) suffered his first loss of the season allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Parker Mushinski faced one batter before being lifted for Dalton Brown, who was touched for a pair of runs (both earned) on two hits in 1.1 innings. Jacob Patterson tossed 3.2 scoreless frames giving up two hits and walking two.

For the fourth-straight game, ECU recorded double-digit hits banging out 13 in the contest. Parker Lamm and Watkins led the way with three hits, while Dwanya Williams-Sutton tallied a pair of base knocks. Watkins drove in a career-high six runs and became the second Pirate to collect six RBI in an NCAA Tournament game joining Chad Tracy (2001). In all, eight of ECU's nine starters collected a hit, while all nine reached base.

Tanner Gardner led Texas Tech with three hits, while Michael Davis and Tyler Neslony added a pair. Both Davis (solo) and Neslony (three-run) each hit home runs on the night.

Trailing 2-1 heading to the fifth inning, ECU scored five runs taking a 6-2 lead and never looked back. Lamm led off with a single and was thrown out at second on Charlie Yorgen's fielder's choice. Williams-Sutton followed with a base knock through the right side and Turner Brown loaded the bases after he was hit by a Martin pitch. Watkins cleared the bases with his second career grand slam and third home run in three games making it a 5-2 game.Garrett Brooks kept the inning going with a single to center and Eric Tyler reached on a fielder's choice where Brooks' took third on a throwing error. A double steal padded the Pirates' lead when he stole home to cap the frame.

Texas Tech responded with a run in the home half of the fifth pulling within three, 6-3. Stephen Smith drew the third of his four walks and moved to third on Gardner's single through the right side. Cory Raley singled home Smith with a shot through the left side.

ECU extended its lead in the sixth to five, 8-3, on Watkins' second homer of the contest, fourth in three games, on a two-run shot to left field that plated Williams-Sutton in front of him.

Two frames later, Nelsony's three-run homer pulled the Red Raiders within two, 8-6. Gardner led off with a triple and Raley walked before they crossed home on Nelsony's 10th homer. Bridges entered the game in relief for the Pirates and sat down all eight Texas Tech batters he faced -- six coming via strikeout.

ECU will hit the field again on Saturday, June 11 when it looks to claim its first-ever super regional and punch its ticket to Omaha. First pitch is scheduled for 3:04 p.m. (ET) and will be aired on ESPNU.