Pirates drop series to Panthers

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GREENVILLE  — East Carolina outhit visiting Florida International 17-10 at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Saturday night but the Panthers claimed the Conference USA series with a 6-4 win.

The Panthers (33-12, 13-10 C-USA) followed up on a 7-1 victory Friday night by going ahead to stay with three runs in the fifth inning on Saturday night in a contest shown on the Fox Sports Network.

Roche Woodard and J.C. Escarra started FIU's fifth with singles before a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Hibbert moved the runners to second and third.

Ryan Williams relieved ECU starter Brett Mabry with two runners in scoring position before Julius Gaines' sacrifice fly tied the score at 2.

Edwin Rios had an RBI single down the right field line for the go-ahead run. A bunt by Zach Sweety scored another run for a 4-2 Panthers lead.

ECU (28-20,13-10) had taken a 1-0 lead in the second when Bryce Harman and Luke Lowery had hits before a grounder to short by Garrett Brooks allowed Harman to score.

Escarra singled and later came home on a passed ball as FIU tied the score in the third.

Lowery's homer to left, his fourth of the season, gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

Harman's fifth homer of the year cut FIU's lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth.

Escarra and Josh Anderson had RBIs as the Panthers went ahead 6-3 in the sixth.

Brooks doubled and later scored when Drew Reynolds hit into a fielder's choice that retired Charlie Yorgen at second.

There were several contested calls during the game. ECU assistant coach Ben Sanderson was ejected in the sixth when it appeared the shortstop was pulled off the bag on a ground ball back to the pitcher that resulted in Yorgen being called out at.

FIU turned its third double play in the seventh.

The Pirates threatened in the ninth. Zach Houchins walked and Ian Townsend flied out to the right fielder on the warning track. Dylan Brown singled through the left side with two out before pinch hitter Ben Fultz was out on a ground ball to first to end the game.

Lowery was 3-for-4 for ECU. Getting two hits each were Yorgen, Reynolds, Houchins, Brown and Harman. Every ECU starter had at least one hit.

A 1 p.m. game today will send the Pirates' David Lucroy (2-4, 4.57 earned run average) against Chris Mourelle (7-2, 1.82) in a matchup of right-handers in the series finale.

PAGE UPDATED 05/04/14 04:31 AM.

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