May 15, 2009

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ECU 9, Memphis 1 (PDF)>

GREENVILLE, N.C. - No. 20 East Carolina used three home runs and recorded 13 hits to walk away with game two of the three-game Conference series against Memphis, 9-1, on Senior Day at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. With the win the Pirates improve to 40-15 overall and 16-7 in league play, while the Tigers drop to 21-31 and 7-15.

Seth Maness improved to 9-0 on the year and 7-0 in league play scattering six hits over seven innings where he allowed one run and fanned nine batters. Patrick Somers worked a perfect eighth inning with a punch out and Mike Wright struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the win.

Brennon Martin suffered the loss falling to 6-4 after allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Dane Sharp pitched the final 2 2/3 innings holding the Pirate offense hitless and recording a pair of strikeouts.

Memphis' Adam McClain gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the first when he connected on a two-out first pitch offering to right field that hit the Taco Bell sign.

ECU answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to home runs by Stephen Batts and Brandon Henderson for a 4-1 lead. Trent Whitehead singled through the right side to start the frame then took third on Ryan Wood's double to left center. Batts cleared the bases with a bomb to left center, his 13th of the year and 30th of his career. Henderson smashed his 10th homer of the season to left field becoming the sixth Pirate this season to hit double-digit home runs.

A four-run, five-hit second pushed the Pirates lead to 8-1. Drew Schieber continued the senior day hit barrage on his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot right center. Jared Avchen, who extended his hit streak to a personal-best eight games, singled to right center after a 14-pitch at-bat. Whitehead reached on a fielder's choice, which was followed by Wood's second base knock of the evening. Kyle Roller ripped a double down the left field line scoring Whitehead and Wood and he touched home on Henderson's second hit of the game, a single to right center.

ECU added a run in the sixth to cap the scoring at 9-1.

The Pirates and Tigers will play the series finale Saturday afternoon with a first pitch scheduled for noon. ECU will send Brad Mincey to the mound, while Memphis will counter with Marc Ashley.

Post-Game Notes:

Career Home Runs: Brandon Henderson (31), Stephen Batts (30), Drew Schieber (15).