Pirates finish strong, avert sweep

From electronic and staff reports
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NORFOLK  — The possibility of being swept at Old Dominion was very real as East Carolina trailed 7-4 after seven innings on Sunday.

The Pirates battled back with a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to extend the Conference USA contest before erupting with five runs in the 12th for a 12-7 win.

ECU (21-15, 9-6 C-USA) pounded out 22 hits, including five in the final frame.

Winning pitcher Drew Reynolds (2-0) helped his cause with a one-out single to right in the 12th and Zach Houchins followed with a single to center. Ian Townsend gave ECU an 8-7 lead with a single up the middle that brought Reynolds home.

Bryce Harman walked before Charlie Yorgen's two-run double pushed the Pirates' lead to 10-7. Luke Lowery singled to drive in ECU's last two runs.

Eight Pirates had multi-hit games with Houchins going 4-for-7 with his first home run of the season and a double. Townsend, Yorgen and Garrett Brooks each had three hits.

Getting two hits apiece were Dylan Brown, Reynolds, Harman and Lowery.

Harman hit his fourth homer of the season, a two-run shot in ECU's three-run fifth.

The blast to right gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead but ODU responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning to create the need for ECU's comeback.

Houchins' solo homer to center got the Pirates within 7-5 in the eighth.

Yorgen got aboard on an error in the ninth and Brooks doubled. Joshua Lovick's line drive to center scored Yorgen. Brown's RBI single up the middle tied the score at 7.

Brett Mabry and Reynolds kept the Monarchs (22-15, 10-8) scoreless over the last seven and two-thirds innings.

The hosts loaded the bases with none out in the bottom of the 12th but Reynolds escaped the jam with a fly out, a line out and a ground out.

The Pirates visit UNC-Wilmington on Tuesday and host the Seahawks on Wednesday. Both games are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

PAGE UPDATED 04/14/14 11:25 AM.

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