Pirates defeat Ohio State, 3-2

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GREENVILLE  — East Carolina finished 3-0 in the 11th annual Keith LeClair Classic with a 3-2 win over Ohio State on Sunday as Drew Reynolds posted a school record 27th career save.

The Pirates won the event for the seventh time, improving to 6-5 overall in 2014 and 6-1 for the season on Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Ian Townsend went 3-for-4 for ECU with an RBI. His single with one out in the bottom of the second started a two-run rally that put the Pirates ahead to stay after the Buckeyes (7-3) had taken a 1-0 lead in the first.

Luke Lowery singled after Townsend's initial hit. Ben Fultz reached on an error that loaded the bases. Eric Tyler drew a walk that forced Townsend home to tie the score. Kirk Morgan's grounder to first allowed Lowery to score the go-ahead run.

Townsend's double down the right field line in the third scored Zach Houchins, who had walked and moved to second on a wild pitch, for a 3-1 Pirates lead.

ECU freshman starter Davis Kirkpatrick went 4 1/3 innings. He allowed four hits and one earned run while striking out one and walking two.

Ryan Williams, who is wearing LeClair's No. 23 this season as a senior, improved to 4-0 since moving to the bullpen for 2014. Williams pitched 3 2/3 innings. He allowed one hit, struck out one and walked one.

Ohio State's Troy Montgomery greeted Reynolds with a double down the left field line in the top of the ninth and he scored on a single through the right side by Aaron Gretz to trim ECU's lead to 3-2. Craig Nennig singled to put runners on the corners for the Buckeyes. Tim Wetzel's sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third. Reynolds got the final two outs on fly balls to strand the potential tying and go-ahead runs and end the game. It was Reynolds' third save of the season.

Lowery was 2-for-4 for ECU.

The Pirates look to snap a four-game winless streak on the road at UNC-Greensboro at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

PAGE UPDATED 03/03/14 02:28 AM.

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