Epic pitcher's duel goes to USM, 1-0

From electronic and staff reports
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East Carolina's Kevin Brandt and Southern Mississippi's Andrew Pierce each authored a three-hit work of art Friday night but only one got a payoff as the Golden Eagles used an unearned run to prevail 1-0 in a Conference USA clash at Pete Taylor Park.

On an evening when the hurlers were in control from start to finish, USM got the break it needed with one out in the 7th. A throwing error by ECU senior third baseman Corey Thompson allowed Ashley Graeter to reach safely on a grounder and dash ahead to scoring position at second. One out later, Isaac Rodriguez singled up the middle and Graeter barely beat sophomore centerfielder Ben Fultz's throw to the plate.

Both pitchers went the distance and kept base runners to a minimum. Brandt, a senior lefthander, struck out six and walked only one, while Pierce, a junior righthander, fanned 11, issued one base on balls and dinged a batter.

The toe-to-toe battle of the masters of the mound didn't go unappreciated by Southern Miss coach Scott Berry, who saw the performance as a harbinger of future games in which runs would be hard to come by.

"Andrew was lights out, and so was Brandt," Berry said after the game. "That was a great college baseball game, and really, you're going to see more games like tonight's contest that are dictated by pitching and defense at this level from now on."

Sophomore shortstop Jack Reinheimer got two of East Carolina's three singles and sophomore first baseman Chase McDonald had the other one. No ECU runner got past second base.

Graeter, Rodriguez and Kameron Brunty each singled for the Golden Eagles.

Rainy weather approaching the Hattiesburg area prompted USM officials to advance the start time of Saturday's game between the teams from 3 p.m. to 11 a.m. The battle will pit a pair of freshman pitchers against each other in ECU righthander Jeff Hoffman and Golden Eagles southpaw Jake Drehoff.

The finale in the three-game series is still slated for a noon start on Sunday.

PAGE UPDATED 05/12/12 05:50 AM.

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