Pirates climb out of hole

From electronic and staff reports
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GREENVILLE — East Carolina climbed out of a 5-0 hole after Central Florida scored five runs with two out in the top of the second inning at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Friday night.

The Pirates evened the Conference USA series by rallying for a 10-8 victory before a crowd of 2,578. The third and deciding game has been moved up to 10 a.m. today because of the possibility of threatening weather.

The Knights knocked redshirt freshman right-hander David Lucroy out of the game after he struck out the first two batters in the top of the second. Lucroy threw 62 pitches in one and two-thirds innings.

A progression of relievers that included Joseph Hughes, Jake Harris, Brett Mabry and Drew Reynolds rode the crest of a 14-hit effort by ECU batters.

Bryan Bass and Chris Gosik had three hits each. Chase McDonald hit his 10th home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth. McDonald and Ben Fultz each had a pair of hits.

Mabry (4-3) got the win. Reynolds recorded his 13th save as ECU improved to 29-24 overall and 13-10 in C-USA.

Gosik's RBI single in the seventh inning put the Pirates ahead to stay at 9-8. McDonald cleared the right field fence for a two-run cushion.

ECU scored in six of eight innings. McDonald and Jay Cannon each had two RBIs in the win.

The Knights slipped to 29-26 overall and 13-10 in league play in the three-hour, 15-minute contest.

ECU recognized seniors Bass, Cannon, Philip Clark, Gosik, Harris, Hughes, Sam King, Andy Smithmyer and videographer Paul Pagnato before the game.

Right-handed junior Ryan Williams (6-2, 3.96 ERA) is expected to start for the Pirates this morning as ECU seeks to win its sixth straight weekend series.

The league tournament is scheduled to start Wednesday in Houston

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PAGE UPDATED 05/18/13 02:31 AM.

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