UNC-Greensboro holds off Pirates

From electronic and staff reports
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GREENVILLE  — UNC-Greensboro evened its season series with East Carolina at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Tuesday by holding off the Pirates for a 6-5 win.

ECU nipped the Spartans, 4-3, in 10 innings on March 5 in the Gate City.

UNCG (7-8) scored twice in the top of the second inning in the second meeting and never trailed.

East Carolina left 17 runners on base in the nonconference contest on Lewis Field.

Nick Chapman's single up the middle off of Pirates starter David Lucroy (0-3) led off the second inning for the visitors. Jake Hall singled to right field and a bunt by Julian Abreu moved the runners to second and third.

Spartans starting pitcher Tyler Long had an RBI single to center field. UNCG used another bunt by Zac MacAneney to bring Hall home for a 2-0 lead.

Lucroy walked Long and MacAneney to start the fourth. A wild pitch allowed the runners to advance to second and third before ECU brought Nick Durazo to the mound.

Another wild pitch allowed Long to score. A sacrifice fly by Sean Guite extended the Spartans' lead to 4-0.

The Pirates got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth as Reid Love was hit by a pitch from Long to lead off the frame. Garrett Brooks drew a walk, and a bunt by Joshua Lovick advanced the runners to second and third. Eric Tyler walked to load the bases and Kirk Morgan's sacrifice fly brought in Love. A wild pitch put runners at second and third but Long escaped further damage with a ground out.

Caleb Henley relieved Long in the fifth and yielded two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Zach Houchins walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Fultz singled with one out to get Houchins to third. An RBI single by Love brought ECU within 4-2. A walk to Lovick loaded the bases and a walk to Tyler forced home another run to trim UNCG's lead to 4-3.

The Spartans added two more runs in the top of the sixth to complete their scoring. Long, who remained in the game as designated hitter, singled to left center with one out. MacAneney was hit by a pitch from Durazo and Guite walked to load the bases. Long scored as L.J. Kalawaia reached on a fielder's choice that retired Guite at second. A wild pitch allowed MacAneney to score from third for a 6-3 Spartans advantage.

The Pirates stranded runners at second and third in the seventh but scored a pair in the eighth to close the gap to 6-5.

Houchins doubled off Adam Swim and moved to third on a ground out by Dylan Brown for ECU in the eighth. Fultz walked before Love had an RBI single to right. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third. A ground out by Brooks brought Fultz home and the Pirates were within a run. Love was at third on a wild pitch before a ground out ended the inning.

ECU left two aboard in the ninth as Swim recorded his first save. Blair Betts (1-0) was awarded the win based on one and one-third innings of effective relief.

Ryan Williams turned in three scoreless innings for the Pirates, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Love was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for ECU (8-8). Fultz went 2-for-4 and scored twice.

The Pirates play Wake Forest (11-6) at Fleming Stadium in Wilson at 6 p.m. today, weather permitting. The Demon Deacons lost 7-3 at Coastal Carolina on Tuesday.

PAGE UPDATED 03/12/14 03:53 AM.

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