ECU, Southern Miss battle to split decision

From electronic and staff reports
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HATTIESBURG, MS — Versatile Drew Reynolds of East Carolina recorded a win and a loss as the Pirates split a Conference USA doubleheader at Southern Miss on Saturday.

In the first game, ECU scored twice in the top of the 15th inning for a 7-5 victory.

The 15 innings tied a school record for longest game. ECU is 3-0 in 15-inning games, winning 7-6 at UNC-Wilmington in 1979 and topping Ohio University 6-5 in Greenville in 1982.

The Golden Eagles scored a run in the eighth to tie the score in the second game and plated the winning run in the ninth for a 2-1 win.

In the opener, Zach Houchins singled up the middle to get the Pirates started in the top of the 15th. Ian Townsend followed with a single through the right side that allowed Houchins to take third.

Dylan Brown singled through the right side to score Houchins and give ECU a 6-5 lead. Joshua Lovick's sacrifice put the Pirates ahead 7-5.

Houchins was 4-for-7 with his third home run of the season and Bryce Harman launched his sixth homer of the season in the first game.

Reynolds followed Reid Love, Brett Mabry and Ryan Williams to the mound in game one, which had been postponed from Friday due to unsuitable weather.

Brown doubled down the right field line in the fourth inning of the second game. He later scored on Hunter Allen's single to center field for a 1-0 Pirates lead.

Reynolds (3-2) relieved starter Tyler Bolton after Connor Barron doubled to left center to start the bottom of the eighth in the nightcap.

Barron scored the tying run on a wild pitch.

Michael Gilbert, Nick Dawson and Barron had singles in the ninth for the Golden Eagles (29-22, 16-10).

Brown went 2-for-3 to lead ECU (29-22, 14-12) at the plate in the nightcap.

Christian Talley scattered six hits in a complete game and walked three while striking out 10 as the Golden Eagles evened the series.

The deciding game is scheduled for noon today.

PAGE UPDATED 05/11/14 02:20 AM.

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