Pirates slip by Memphis to square series

From electronic and staff reports
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Brett Mabry pitched three innings of shutout middle relief and Drew Reynolds had three hits, including a run-scoring double, to help East Carolina capture a come-from-behind 4-3 Conference USA victory over Memphis Saturday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Facing a deficit after the Tigers used two walks, a double and a groundout to produce a pair of scores in the third, the Pirates pushed across two runs in the fifth to knot the game and struck for two more in the seventh to seize the advantage.

Mabry, who came on for ECU starter David Lucroy with no outs and one on in the sixth, blanked Memphis on two hits until turning the mound duties over to Reynolds to start the ninth.

The Tigers pounced on Reynolds for a run on three straight singles to pull within one with no outs. But Reynolds retired cleanup hitter Tucker Tubbs on a flyout and enticed Drew Griffin into a double-play grounder to seal the outcome.

The Pirates didn't get to Memphis starter Sam Moll until the fifth when Travis Watkins and Jack Reinheimer opened with back-to-back singles and Reynolds delivered a double to right center to drive in Watkins.

Zach Houchins followed with a sacrifice fly to center that brought home Reinheimer and tied the game.

ECU chased Tigers reliever Conner Porter with the decisive uprising in the seventh.

After Bryan Bass and Reynolds singled, Porter loaded the bases by issuing an intentional walk to Houchins. Bass scored on Chase McDonald's sacrifice fly to center to tie the score.

Ben Fultz hit an infield single off reliever Blake Myers to once again load the bases, setting the stage for the Pirates to score their final run when Myers walked Jay Cannon, forcing in Reynolds.

Lucroy surrendered two runs through five innings on three hits and four walks before handing off the hurling chores to Mabry.

Mabry (2-2) got credit for the win, while Reynolds picked up his ninth save of the season.

Porter (1-1) absorbed the loss.

The outcome evened the weekend series and lifted ECU to 22-21 overall, 7-7 in the conference.

Memphis, which won Friday's opener 6-5, fell to 26-18, 9-8 in the league.

The teams will decide the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

PAGE UPDATED 04/27/13 09:47 PM.

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