May 12, 2009

Final Stats

ECU 12, UNC Wilmington 5 (PDF)

WILMINGTON, N.C. - For the third straight game, senior Ryan Wood led No. 20 East Carolina's (38-15) offensive attack going 4-for-6 from the plate, which included hitting for the cycle, as the Pirates took the rubber match against UNC Wilmington (29-17), 12-5 Tuesday night at Brooks Field.

Wood hit a home run in the first, singled in the second before hitting a triple in the fourth and finishing off the cycle with a double in the fifth frame. The last Pirate to accomplish this feat was Billy Richardson in 2005 against Navy inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. Joining Wood with multiple hits on the night was Stephen Batts (3-for-4), Jared Avchen (2-for-3) and Brandon Henderson (2-for-5). Three Pirates drove in multiple runs with Wood leading the way with four RBIs.

On a staff night, Mike Anderson picked up his first win of the season for the Pirates and improved to 1-1 after working 1 2/3 scoreless innings where he allowed three hits and fanned two. Bailey Daniels entered the game in the second with runners on the corners, walked a batter then struck out Grayson Evans to get out of the jam. Daniels worked 1 2/3 innings allowing three runs on one hit with four walks. Britton Cole (1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, K), Patrick Somers (1.2 IP, BB, K), Mike Wright (1 IP, 2 H, R, 2 Ks), Brad Mincey (1 IP) and Seth Simmons (1 IP, 2 Ks).

Jesse Haney dropped to 2-4 on the year after allowing three runs on three hits in an inning of work. The Seahawks used seven more pitchers on the night in Justin Bradley (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R), Daniel Cropper (2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 Ks), Tyler Smith (0.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R), Bryan Booth (2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, K), Jack Lane (2.1 IP, H, K), Tyler McSwain (1.1 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 Ks) and Cameron Roth (2/3 IP).

Wood wasted little time in getting the Pirates on the board as he smacked his 13th home run in the top of the first to give ECU a 1-0 lead.

Dustin Harrington highlighted a four-run second that put the Pirates up 5-0 with his two-run shot to center field. Devin Harris was plunked by a Haney pitch on the hands just before Harrington's 11th home run of the season. Trent Whitehead reached on a fielder's choice and landed on second thanks to the second error by shortstop Mike Rooney. Wood, who singled up the middle plating Whitehead, stole second and came around to score on Batts' second hit, also a single up the middle.

ECU added two runs in the fourth pushing its lead to 7-0. Wood tripled to center scoring Jared Avchen from third for the first run of the frame. Avchen led off with a double down the left field line then took third on a passed ball before trotting home on Wood's first 3-bagger of the year. Wood eventually would score on a Cropper wild pitch giving the Pirates a seven run lead.

UNCW cut into ECU's lead in the bottom of the fourth platting four runs to make the score 7-4. Bobby Leeper's bases loaded single through the left side scored Rooney and Alex Hill. After Cole loaded the bases with the third walk of the inning, Matt Holt doubled down the left field line scoring Leeper and Ben Thielsen.

After giving up four runs in the fourth to the Seahawks, ECU responded with five in the fifth to take a commanding 12-4 lead. ECU took advantage of three errors and registered four hits, including a double by Wood to complete the cycle in four consecutive at bats. Harris extended his current hitting streak to a season-long 12 games with a single through the left side that put runners on first and second for Harrington, who reached on an error by the catcher Cody Stanley on a sac bunt that scored Brandon Henderson. With one out, Avchen pushed across Harris on a sac bunt, which was followed by three consecutive RBI hits, a pair of doubles and a single to cap the scoring.

UNCW scored a run in the seventh to for their fifth run of the night.

The Pirates will return home this week when they close out Conference USA play against Memphis on Thursday, May 14 with a first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. (EDT).

Post-Game Notes:

Career Multi-RBI Games: Stephen Batts (42), Ryan Wood (32), Dustin Harrington (22).