Franco curtails Pirates

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GREENVILLE  — Junior right-hander Mike Franco of Florida International pitched his fourth complete game of the season in a 7-1 Conference USA win at East Carolina on Friday night.

Franco (8-2) allowed six hits, one earned run and struck out seven without a walk as the Panthers (32-12, 12-10 C-USA) won their fifth straight.

FIU scored single runs in the first and second innings.

Julius Gaines drew a one-out walk from Tyler Bolton of the Pirates in the top of the first. Gaines advanced to third on a double by Josh Anderson and scored on a ground out by Edwin Rios.

Brian Portelli led off the second for the Panthers with a solo home run to left field for a 2-0 lead.

J.C. Escarra had a two-out single for the Panthers in the fifth. Tyler Hibbert had a triple to right field for a 3-0 FIU lead. Gaines' RBI double pushed the margin to 4-0.

Bryce Harman singled for the Pirates in the bottom of the fifth and went to second on a ground out by Garrett Brooks. Harman scored ECU's lone run on a single to right by Hunter Allen.

Roche Woodard, Escarra (double) and Hibbert had run-scoring hits for FIU in a three-run ninth.

The Pirates (28-19, 13-9) were without Friday starter Jeff Hoffman for the second straight week due to arm soreness.

Harman went 3-for-4 for ECU and Allen was 2-for-2.

Hibbert went 3-for-5 for the Panthers and Escarra finished 2-for-4.

Bolton (2-4) went seven and two-thirds innings, yielding six hits. He allowed four runs, all earned, while walking one and striking out three.

Nick Durazo, James Gray and Hayden White had relief stints for the Pirates.

The series continues with a 6:30 game at Clark-LeClair Stadium tonight that will be televised on the Fox Sports Network.

Right-handers Cody Crouse (4-2, 1.35 earned run average) of FIU and Brett Mabry (4-1, 1.72) are scheduled to start.

PAGE UPDATED 05/03/14 04:58 AM.

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