ODU prevails before largest crowd in 30 years

From electronic and staff reports
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NORFOLK  — When Ryan Williams has been in position to win a decision this season, that's what has usually happened.

The start of East Carolina's three-game Conference USA series at Old Dominion was an exception.

The Monarchs scored four runs in the eighth inning off the Pirates' right-hander and took a 7-3 win Friday night at the Bud Metheny Complex.

A crowd of 1,751 witnessed the game. It was the second largest crowd for a home baseball game in ODU history, surpassed only by the 2,125 on hand on April 25th, 1984, for the stadium dedication game against Virginia Tech.

Williams slipped to 9-2 with the loss.

ECU (20-14, 8-5 C-USA) is scheduled to play the second game of the series with ODU (21-14, 9-7) at 4 p.m. today.

Luke Lowery's second home run of the season to lead off the fifth inning cut the Monarchs' lead to 2-1. ECU tied the score at 2 in the sixth as Drew Reynolds singled, Zach Houchins doubled and Ian Townsend had a sacrifice fly.

An RBi single by P.J. Higgins, who went 3-for-4, gave the hosts a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

The Pirates pulled even at 3 in the seventh as Charlie Yorgen walked, Eric Tyler executed a sacrifice bunt to move him to second and Garrett Brooks' ground out to first got him to third. Hunter Allen's two-out single to right scored Yorgen.

Josiah Burney, who also went 3-for-4, had a two-run double for the Monarchs in the eighth and Taylor Ostrich had a run-scoring triple.

Dylan Brown and Houchins paced ECU offensively with two hits each.

Half of ECU's losses (seven) have been to teams from Virginia. The Pirates haven't beaten a club from the commonwealth since the season-opening set with James Madison.

Left-hander Reid Love (2-2, 3.35 earned run average) is scheduled to start today for ECU.

PAGE UPDATED 04/12/14 07:06 PM.

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