April 12, 2008

Final Stats

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Marshall University designated hitter Victor Gomez drove in the tying run in the ninth, but No. 28 East Carolina used a one-out RBI double by Cameron Freeman to help lift the Pirates to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Thundering Herd in Saturday night's Conference USA baseball game at Lewis Field at LeClair Stadium.

With the loss, Marshall falls to 14-18-1 overall and 4-6-1 in the conference, while East Carolina improves to 25-9 on the season, and 7-4 in C-USA action.

Trailing 3-2 in the top of the ninth, first baseman Josh Valle drilled a one-out double down the left field line off Pirates reliever Josh Ruhlman. Matt Helm came in to pinch-run for Valle, and following an infield single by center fielder Nate Lape, stole third base putting runners on the corners with two outs. Pirates brought in reliever Brad Mincey before Gomez drove Helm in with a shallow single to left field. Lape tried to score the go-ahead run on the play but was thrown out to end the inning tied at 3-3.

The Pirates put its lead runner on with a tough infield single by first baseman Brandon Henderson, right fielder Trent Whitehead reached on a fielder's choice and a fielding error sent Henderson to second. Shortstop Dustin Harrington then reached on a fielder's choice, sending Whietehead to second. Henderson was thrown out at third, before Freeman laced a double off the left field wall to plate the winning run.

Mincey (2-0) gets the win after pitching a third of an inning, while Herd right-hander Adam Dobies (0-2) entered the game in the eighth and suffers the loss for the Herd.

Pirates' starter Seth Maness twirled a two-hitter through eight innings, while Herd starter Steve Blevins threw a solid seven innings striking out five and scattering six hits in his eighth appearance of the season.

In the top of the first inning, shortstop Adam Yeager launched his second home run of the season into the right field bleachers, giving the Herd a 1-0 advantage right off the bat. Maness was able to retire the side in order after the jack to lead off the game.

The Pirates answered in the bottom of the first with some long-ball of its own, as left fielder Stephen Batts and catcher Corey Kemp blasted two-out back-to-back home runs, their fifth and 11th respectively, to take a 2-1 lead after one inning of play.

After two scoreless innings, Marshall knotted the game at 2-2 when designated hitter Victor Gomez sent a two-out pitch sailing into the right field stands for his fifth home run of the season.

Since giving up the home runs in the first, Blevins settled down and cruised through the next four innings, allowing just one hit and two base runners during that span while striking out two.

In the bottom of the sixth, East Carolina second baseman Ryan Wood earned a lead off walk and then advanced to second on an infield throwing error following a lineout by Batts. Kemp then singled in the run and advanced on the throw in from the outfield, giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Maness hurled a beauty through seven innings for the Pirates, striking out six batters and allowing just one free pass and just the two home runs.

East Carolina got things going again in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of two-out base hits, but Blevins got the following batter looking to keep the score at 3-2.

Marshall and No. 28 East Carolina will play the series finale Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The matchup will feature Herd right-hander Dan Straily (3-2) against Pirates righty Justin Bristow (5-1).