Hoffman handles Blue Raiders

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Audio: Billy Godwin & Jeff Hoffman post-game...

GREENVILLE  — Junior right-hander Jeff Hoffman of East Carolina struck out 16 Middle Tennessee State batters Thursday night as the Pirates took a 1-0 Conference USA win over the visiting Blue Raiders.

ECU (23-15, 10-6 C-USA) got the final out on a play at the plate as Pirates right fielder Ian Townsend threw to catcher Eric Tyler for a tag out on Trent Miller, who was trying to score from second on a single by Michael Adkins.

Hoffman (3-3) went eight innings. He allowed three hits and walked one. Ryan Williams pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein was among the major league observers in a crowd of 2,248 at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

ECU's lone run in the fifth inning came after Dylan Brown drew a leadoff walk. Drew Reynolds singled through the right side to move Brown to third. Townsend had a sacrifice fly to right to give the Pirates the lead.

Zac Curtis was the tough luck loser for Middle Tennessee (18-20, 8-8). He allowed seven hits while walking two and striking out six in a complete game.

The teams will play a doubleheader today beginning at 2 p.m., a schedule adjustment that will move up the third game of the league series from Saturday to avoid potential unsuitable weather.

A Monday home game with Old Dominion at 6 p.m. has been added to the ECU schedule. Though the Monarchs are C-USA members, the contest will be treated as a non-league matchup. ODU won two of three from the Pirates in their conference series last weekend.

PAGE UPDATED 04/18/14 12:41 AM.

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