Joyner, Wright excel in win over ORU

From electronic and staff reports
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Junior lefthander Tyler Joyner struck out seven and scattered five hits over six innings and senior catcher Zach Wright factored into all of East Carolina's runs as the Pirates earned a 4-2 victory over Oral Roberts Saturday afternoon in the DRASH Alabama Classic in Tuscaloosa.

Joyner (3-0) held the Golden Eagles to one run during his stint on the mound. With ORU's bats subdued, the Pirates got on the scoreboard first and ultimately captured the lead for good with a three-run sixth.

Sophomore first baseman Chase McDonald reached on an error by the rightfielder in the second inning, advancing all the way to second. After moving to third on a bunt single by designated hitter Drew Reynolds, McDonald came home on a single to center by Wright to stake East Carolina to a 1-0 advantage.

Oral Roberts knotted the score in the top of the sixth on a solo homer by junior second baseman Cam Schiller.

But the tie was short-lived as East Carolina erupted in the bottom of the inning.

With two outs, McDonald walked and Reynolds singled. Wright stepped up and knocked them in with a double down the leftfield line on a 1-2 pitch, then came across the plate himself on a single by junior rightfielder Philip Clark.

Andy Smithmyer, a junior righthander, took the hill for the Pirates to start the seventh and kept the Golden Eagles (6-7) off the board for two innings.

Reynolds, a sophomore righthander, came on in relief in the ninth and gave up a run on three hits and a walk before giving way to Tanner Merritt with two outs, two on and the winning run at the plate.

Merritt, also a sophomore righthander, retired Schiller on a fly to center to end the threat and pick up his third save.

Oral Roberts starter Drew Bowen (2-1) absorbed his first loss of the season. The junior righthander went six innings and gave up eight hits and all four of East Carolina's runs.

The 29th-ranked Pirates (10-3) will aim to complete a sweep in the round-robin invitational event today with an 11 a.m. matchup against No. 14 Louisville.

East Carolina took down host Alabama 3-1 on Friday behind a stellar pitching performance by senior southpaw Kevin Brandt. The Cardinals (10-4) defeated Oral Roberts 7-3 on Friday but lost a 7-6 nail-biter to the Crimson Tide (6-8) on Saturday.

PAGE UPDATED 03/11/12 07:00 AM.

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