ECU captures series at Cincy

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

CINCINNATI — East Carolina scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning after Cincinnati had taken a 1-0 lead in the second and the Pirates went on to a 6-4 American Athletic Conference win over the Bearcats on Friday night.

The outcome clinched the series for ECU, which improved to 35-20 overall and 14-9 in league play. The Pirates won the series opener 7-3 on Thursday night.

The third game is scheduled for noon today.

Kirk Morgan went 4-for-5 and scored two runs to lead the victory offensively. Evan Kruczynski (7-4) started and pitched seven and one-third innings for the Pirates. He allowed six hits and two runs, both earned, while walking three and striking out five.

Joe Ingle went one and two-thirds for his fifth save.

ECU remained a game behind Houston (38-17, 15-8) in the league standings as the Cougars topped Connecticut 3-1 on Friday night.

Devin Wenzel of the Bearcats doubled in the second and Woody Wallace drove him in with a single as Cincinnati went ahead 1-0.

Charlie Yorgen singled to get the Pirates started in the fourth. Reid Love followed with a single and Morgan bunted for a hit to load the bases.

Luke Lowery was hit by a pitch to force in a run and tie the score. Eric Tyler flied out to center before two runs scored on a throwing error by the Bearcats' first baseman.

Morgan led off the sixth with a single to right and Lowery doubled through the left side. Tyler's sacrifice fly scored Morgan for a 4-1 Pirates lead. An RBI double by Travis Watkins pushed ECU's advantage to 5-1.

A solo homer by Garrett Brooks in the eighth put the Pirates ahead 6-1.

The Bearcats rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth.

ECU outhit their hosts, 11-9, and played errorless defense while Cincinnati was beset by three fielding miscues.

Yorgen finished with two hits and scored a run in the Pirates' third straight win.

PAGE UPDATED 05/16/15 02:48 AM.

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