Pirates survive marathon, grab sweep

From electronic and staff reports
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East Carolina depended on masterful relief pitching to shut off UAB's offensive assault, produced a dramatic rally in the bottom of the ninth to stay alive, then finished off the Blazers with a walk-off fly ball in the 13th for a 6-5 Conference USA victory on Sunday at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

UAB had banged out 12 hits and led 5-2 when sophomore righthander Tanner Merritt took the mound to start the seventh and hurled 2 2/3 perfect innings to cool off the Blazers (17-12, 2-4 C-USA). Junior lefthander Jake Harris retired the one batter he faced to finish the top of the ninth, setting the stage for the Pirates (19-8, 4-2) to mount a comeback in their half of the inning.

Sophomore outfielder Ben Fultz got the three-run rally going with a one-out double to left center. After senior catcher Zach Wright reached on a walk, Fultz and Wright each advanced a base on an infield single by junior outfielder Bryan Bass.

One out later, a wild pitch by senior righthanded reliever Ryan Nance sent Fultz home and allowed Wright and Bass to move up to second and third, respectively. Sophomore pinch-hitter Chase McDonald's single to right brought Wright and Bass across the plate and sent the game into extra innings.

Drew Reynolds (2-0) tamed UAB's hitters over the final four innings. The sophomore righthander, who served double-duty as designated hitter, picked up the win after shutting out the Blazers on one hit and one walk until the game was decided.

In the Pirates' half of the fateful 13th inning, Reynolds led off and took first when he was hit by a pitch. Reynolds then raced to third on a single through the right side by senior third baseman Corey Thompson. After junior first baseman John Wooten was intentionally walked, Fultz launched a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Reynolds time to score.

UAB chased junior righthander Jharel Cotton, East Carolina's starter, after roughing him up for six hits and three runs in two innings. Reliever Andy Smithmyer, a junior righthander, fared little better, giving up six hits and a pair of runs, one earned, over four innings before giving way to Merritt, Harris and Reynolds.

Senior righthander Michael Busby delivered a solid start for the Blazers, limiting the Pirates to two runs on six hits and two walks over 7 2/3 innings. UAB led 5-2 when Busby was relieved by Nance (2-1), who took the loss.

East Carolina completed a three-game sweep of the Blazers with the triumph. After scoring scored nine runs over the final three innings on Friday to take down UAB 11-6, the Pirates routed the Blazers 12-2 on Saturday.

East Carolina will hit the road on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. matchup with UNC-Wilmington.

PAGE UPDATED 04/02/12 07:17 AM.

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