Lively masters Pirates in series opener

From electronic and staff reports
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GREENVILLE — Central Florida's Ben Lively opened a three-game Conference USA baseball series at East Carolina's Clark-LeClair Stadium with a four-hit shutout as the Knights topped the Pirates 2-0 on Thursday night.

ECU (28-24, 12-10 C-USA) fell behind in the first inning and the Knights added another run in the fourth.

Lively (7-4), a junior right-hander, had seven strikeouts and one walk in his second shutout of the season.

Jeff Hoffman (6-6) went eight innings for the Pirates. The sophomore right-hander allowed six hits while striking out five and walking six. Brett Mabry pitched a scoreless inning of relief for ECU.

UCF (29-25, 13-9) got a leadoff double from Erik Hempe to start the game and James Vasquez's fly to left allowed him to advance to third. The Knights went ahead 1-0 on a sacrifice fly to center field by Chris Taladay.

UCF took a 2-0 lead on JoMarcos Woods' RBI double in the fourth after Bret Gordon had walked.

Lively kept the Pirates hitless until the fourth inning when Bryan Bass had an infield single. UCF followed up with a double play. Drew Reynolds subsequently had the first of two hits and stole second in the fourth, but he was stranded on a lineout by Zach Houchins.

Hempe reached over the right field fence in the fifth inning to rob Chase McDonald of a home run.

Pirates right fielder Jay Cannon threw a UCF runner out at the plate in the seventh. Hits by Reynolds and Houchins in the bottom of the seventh gave ECU a scoring opportunity but McDonald flied out and Lively got Ben Fultz to pop up to short.

ECU will recognize seniors and four recent graduates at 5:35 p.m. Friday evening prior to game two of the series at 6 p.m.

The Pirates conclude the regular season at home against the Knights with an 11 a.m. start on Saturday. That contest will be televised on Fox Sports Net.

PAGE UPDATED 05/17/13 01:16 AM.

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