Pirates snatch
extra-inning thriller
From electronic and staff reports
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Junior outfielder Philip Clark's two-out bunt
single in the bottom of the 10th drove in Zach Wright and sealed an 8-7
comeback victory for East Carolina over Conference USA foe Marshall Saturday
afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Clark's bunt down the third base line was the
Pirates' only hit in the climactic inning. Wright reached base to lead off
the frame when he was dinged by Joe Church, Marshall's fourth pitcher of the
game. A senior catcher, Wright went to second on a sacrifice bunt by
sophomore shortstop Jack Reinheimer. Wright then advanced to third on
sophomore first baseman Chase McDonald's groundout, setting the stage for
Clark's clutch plate appearance.
Clark was also instrumental in a game-tying
rally in the 9th that erased a 7-5 Thundering Herd lead and forced the extra
inning. After singling up the middle to lead off, Clark moved to second when
sophomore outfielder Ben Fultz walked. Clark then took third when sophomore
designated hitter Drew Reynolds was hit by a pitch.
Clark came home on senior third baseman Corey
Thompson's groundout. Fultz knotted the score moments later when he dashed
across the plate on a passed ball.
Tanner Merritt (3-4) got credit for the win
despite giving up two earned runs on three hits and two walks in the final 2
2/3 innings.
After taking over for junior righthander Andy
Smithmyer with one out and one on in the eighth, Merritt uncorked a wild
pitch, issued a walk and gave up a single and a three-run double that
boosted Marshall ahead 7-5. But the sophomore righthander delivered when it
mattered most, keeping the Herd off the scoreboard in the final two innings.
Junior lefthander Tyler Joyner started for the
Pirates and surrendered four runs — only one of which was earned — on nine
hits over four innings. With the bases loaded and none out in the fifth,
Smithmyer took over the mound duties and proceeded to work 3 1/3 innings,
giving up a run on two hits and a pair of walks before giving way to
Merritt.
Herd starter Aaron Blair parceled out eight
hits and one walk over six innings but committed a key throwing error in the
4th that opened the door for a five-run ECU outburst. Only two of the runs
were earned.
Only four of Marshall's seven runs were earned
as the Pirates made four errors.
The Herd, which got three hits apiece from
Isaac Ballou, Nathan Gomez and Eric Escobedo, outhit ECU 14-10. Clark,
Reinheimer and senior second baseman Tim Younger each had two hits for East
Carolina. Combined with
their 8-2 thumping of Marshall
on Friday, the Pirates moved within a game of sweeping the three-game
set. Junior righthander Jharel Cotton (8-0) and Marshall senior leftie
Mike Mason (4-5) are the projected starters when the teams wrap up the
series on Sunday (1 p.m.)
PAGE UPDATED
05/06/12 03:49 AM.
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