May 5, 2007

Box Score

Game Highlights

ECU 3, Houston 1 (PDF)

HOUSTON, Texas - T.J. Hose allowed five runners to reach base in 7 2/3 innings as East Carolina (30-15, 8-7) took game one of a three-game series over Houston (25-20, 10-6) 3-1 Friday night at Cougar Field.

The junior right-hander gave up one hit in the first inning then retired 14 straight until giving up back-to-back hits in the sixth frame. Hose (6-4) finished with five strikeouts, one walk and allowed four hits with no runs before giving way to Jason Neitz in the eighth. Neitz (0.2 IP, one strikeout) closed out the eighth by striking out Zak Presley and got Jimmy Cesario to ground out to second to start the ninth. Closer Shane Mathews picked up his league leading 11th save closing out the ninth allowing one run on one hit with two walks and one punch-out.

Aaron Brown fell to 6-4 on the season after going seven innings where he allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Jimmy Raviele came into the game in the eighth inning working the final two frames where he surrendered just two hits,

ECU drew first blood in the top of the fourth inning when Corey Kemp took an off-speed pitch to right field that plated Ryan Tousley for a 1-0 advantage. Tousley lead off with a walk, moved to second on Stephen Batts' single through the right side. Roller reached on a fielder's choice and moved Tousley to third setting up the games first run.

The Pirates added another run in the top of the sixth when Tousley singled home Ryan Wood putting the score at 2-0. Wood reached on the third fielding error of the night by Bryan Pounds, then stole second and advanced on a wild pitch before crossing home.

Houston threaten in the bottom of the sixth when Pounds singled up the middle, which was followed by Ryan Lomand's single to left field with one out. Both runners moved into scoring position on a Hose wild pitch before being stranded. Hose hunkered down and got Presley to pop up to short before Cesario's line-out to short to kill the ralley.

In the top of the seventh the Pirates increased their lead to 3-0 when pinch-runner Mark Letchworth touched home on another Brown wild pitch. Jake Dean singled through the left side with one out before being lifted for Letchworth. Drew Schieber followed Dean's hit with a walk then Jamie Ray singled to center to load the bases.

Houston finally put a run on the board in the bottom of the ninth when Felix Fanaselle drew a two-out bases loaded walk that scored Dustin Kingsbury making the score 3-1 in favor of the Pirates. Kingsbury reached on a throwing error by Kemp then Josh Stirneman followed with an infield single to short. Both runners moved up when Bryan Tulley grounded out to short before Louis Flores drew another Houston walk to load the bases for Fanaselle's RBI walk.

Mathews closed the game by striking out Pounds to preserve the Pirates win.

Offensively the Pirates were led by Tousley who collected his 14th multi-hit game of the season and 22nd of his career going 2-for-4. Batts extended his current hitting streak to 11 games, while Wood's hit streak was snapped at nine games.

The two teams will hit the field again Saturday night with a first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. (EDT).