ECU takes two from Tulane

Reliever Ryan Williams picks up both wins

From electronic and staff reports
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GREENVILLE  — East Carolina launched four home runs in an eight-run second inning, including two by Ian Townsend, to defeat Tulane 13-3 in eight innings and complete a doubleheader sweep of the Green Wave on Saturday on Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The Pirates won the Conference USA series two games to one in improving to 10-10 overall. The Bucs evened their league record at 3-3.

Three runs in the bottom of the eighth lifted the Pirates to a 5-2 win in the first game. Townsend had the go-ahead RBI on a two-out single to center field.

Ryan Williams (6-1) won both games in relief. The senior right-hander scattered seven hits and gave up no runs in his 8 1/3 innings of work in the two contests.

Left-hander Reid Love held the Wave hitless through six innings in the opener. Brett Mabry struggled at the outset of the second game as Tulane scored three times in the first frame before Williams was summoned to the mound and ECU took control with its power surge in the second.

Bryce Harman also had two homers in the second game as the Pirates scored a season high 13 runs to close the contest on the 10-run mercy rule. ECU homered five times in the second game.

Townsend's RBI single to right fittingly ended the day. The transfer from St. Johns River Community College went 7-for-9 for the twinbill with seven RBIs and he scored three runs.

Brunswick Community College transfer Hunter Allen went 2-for-4 in the first game.

Drew Reynolds led off with a walk to start ECU's decisive three-run eighth in the first game. Zach Houchins' sacrifice bunt moved him to second. Townsend's single scored Reynolds for a 3-2 ECU lead. Townsend went to third on an error on the center fielder.

Andrew LaMura's single scored Townsend and pinch runner Jonathan Holt came home for an additional insurance run on a single to left by Eric Tyler.

Williams struck out the side in the top of the ninth, whiffing all four in one and one-third innings. Love fanned four in seven and two-thirds.

Harman was 2-for-4 in the second game with two RBIs and two runs scored. Reynolds, who continued to show his versatility at first base, was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Houchins went 2-for-5, scoring once and driving in a run. Charlie Yorgen, who played second, was 2-for-3.

Fultz had a three-run homer with two out that put the Pirates ahead 5-3 in the second-inning eruption.

ECU bounced back from a 7-2 loss to Tulane (10-8, 3-3) on Friday night.

The Pirates host Virginia Commonwealth on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Rams topped ECU 3-0 in Richmond on Feb. 25.

PAGE UPDATED 03/16/14 02:10 AM.

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