Pirates rally past UNCG

By Al Myatt
©2015 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

GREENVILLE — Cliff Godwin got his first win as coach of East Carolina as the Pirates rolled past UNC Greensboro, 8-3, in the opening game of the 2015 Keith LeClair Classic.

The Spartans had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth but ECU answered with two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth.

After UNCG (1-2) closed within 5-3 in the seventh, the Pirates scored three times in the eighth.

East Carolina bounced back after being swept by No. 2 Virginia at home last weekend.

ECU (1-3) was powered by three home runs, two by Luke Lowery and one by Travis Watkins.

Bryce Harman and Watkins each had three of the Pirates' 11 hits.

Hunter Allen had two hits, a double and a triple. Parker Lamm had a single.

Evan Kruczynski started and pitched six innings for the win. He allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out seven and walking one.

Nick Durazo yielded two hits and two unearned runs in two innings of relief. Kirk Morgan came to the mound in the ninth as ECU closed the nonconference contest with a double play.

The Spartans took a 1-0 lead in the fourth after a one-out double by Collin Woody. Aaron Wright singled to right and was out trying to stretch it into a double as Woody came home.

Charlie Yorgen drew a walk to start ECU's half of the fifth and a one-out triple to right center by Allen tied the score. A two-out error by UNCG allowed the go-ahead run.

The Pirates flexed their muscles in the sixth. Lowery led off with a home run down the left field line. Harman followed with a double and Watkins blasted a homer to center for a 5-1 ECU lead.

Tripp Shelton had a two-run homer for the Spartans in the seventh.

Lowery led off for the Pirates in the eighth with a homer to center for a 6-3 lead. Watkins doubled with one away and scored when Yorgen reached on an error. Yorgen stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Mims.

The Spartans are scheduled to meet St. John's at 11 a.m. today.

ECU concludes the adjusted schedule of the LeClair Classic this afternoon with games against Liberty at 2:30 p.m. and St. John's at 6 p.m., weather permitting.

PAGE UPDATED 02/22/15 08:48 PM.

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