Weekend warriors win again

From electronic and staff reports
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BECKLEY, WV — East Carolina manufactured a run in the top of the ninth inning to edge host Marshall 4-3 on Sunday afternoon and win its fifth straight series.

The Pirates improved to 28-23 overall and 12-9 in Conference USA by taking the first and third games in the baseball series with the Thundering Herd (19-31, 6-15 C-USA).

Philip Clark and Bryan Bass drew walks for ECU in the ninth. A double steal put runners at second and third before Jack Reinheimer's sacrifice fly brought Clark home with the go-ahead run.

Joseph Hughes made the lead stand up with one and one-third innings of scoreless relief for the win in his first decision of the season.

Hughes came in the game with a Marshall runner on second and two down in the eighth. He defused the threat with a strikeout. Hughes allowed one hit and fanned two.

Ryan Williams started for the Pirates and pitched into the sixth inning. He scattered eight hits and was nicked for three runs, two of which were earned. The right-handed transfer whiffed two and walked a pair before Andy Smithmyer was summoned to the mound. Coach Billy Godwin turned to Jake Harris after Smithmyer issued a walk and Harris responded with two scoreless innings.

ECU chased Herd starter Mike Taylor with three runs in the top of the second. A double by Zach Houchins pushed his hitting streak to 11 games. A walk to Chase McDonald preceded an RBI double by Ben Fultz for a 1-0 Pirates lead. Luke Lowery walked to load the bases. A walk to Jay Cannon forced in a run for a 2-0 Pirates lead. A ground out by Bass brought Fultz in.

Marshall scored once in the third inning and used four straight hits in the fifth to tie the score at 3.

The Pirates had just four hits. An 0-for-5 day for Drew Reynolds ended his hitting streak at 14 games. Herd pitchers walked 10 and all four of ECU's runs were earned.

A home series with Central Florida, which will close the regular season for the Pirates, starts Thursday at 6 p.m.

PAGE UPDATED 05/13/13 01:14 AM.

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