ECU snares road win over Blazers

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Sophomore righthander Jeff Hoffman pitched eight solid innings and junior first baseman Chase McDonald had three hits and three runs batted in to help East Carolina capture a 5-4 Conference USA victory over Alabama-Birmingham Friday night at Young Memorial Field.

Hoffman (4-4) picked up the triumph, fanning seven and scattering seven hits before handing off a 5-3 lead to junior righthander Drew Reynolds to start the ninth.

After giving up a run on a walk, a hit batsman and a single, Reynolds stranded two Blazer base runners and earned his seventh save by getting the final two outs on a strikeout and a groundout.

ECU led from start to finish, pushing across two runs in the first, two more in the third and what proved to be the decisive score in the sixth.

First inning doubles by junior shortstop Jack Reinheimer and junior third baseman Zach Houchins produced the Pirates' first score. McDonald followed with a two-out single, driving in Houchins for 2-0 lead.

Two innings later, McDonald upped ECU's margin to 4-0 with a two-run double after singles by Reynolds and Houchins.

UAB trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the fourth on a walk, two singles and a wild pitch.

The Blazers pulled within one in the fifth on a single, a wild pitch and an RBI double by senior third baseman John Frost.

ECU scored what turned out to be the winning run in the sixth.

McDonald singled, moved to second when senior outfielder Jay Cannon walked, advanced to third on junior outfielder Dylan Brown's sacrifice bunt and came home on freshman catcher Travis Watkins' sacrifice fly.

UAB starter Tanner Bryant (2-5) absorbed the loss. The senior righthander gave up five runs on seven hits and was charged with all five of the Pirates' runs.

The teams will face off again on Saturday at 3 p.m. The final game of the series is set for Sunday at 2 p.m.

PAGE UPDATED 04/20/13 04:51 AM.

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