Cincinnati tops Pirates, 3-0

Staff report
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Post-game audio: Cliff Godwin, Evan Kruczynski, Eric Tyler...

GREENVILLE — Cincinnati extended its lead in the American Athletic Conference with a 3-0 win over East Carolina at Clark-LeClair Stadium Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.

Tulane's 10-6 loss to Houston put the Bearcats 1.5 games ahead of the second-place Green Wave.

Andrew Zellner (6-2) and A.J. Kullman, who got his second save, combined for the shutout of the Pirates.

The Bearcats improved to 21-21 overall and 9-4 in the AAC. ECU slipped to 26-16 on the season and 7-6 in the league going into a 4 p.m. game today.

The Pirates threatened in the bottom of the ninth with runners on second and third with one out.

Garrett Brooks had an infield hit and Dwanya Williams-Sutton singled to left field in the final frame. The runners each advanced a base on a ground out to first by Zack Mozingo.

Turner Brown went down swinging before Parker Lamm grounded out to third to end the game.

"We hit a lot of balls hard," said Pirates coach Cliff Godwin. "It was just right at people."

ECU outhit the Cincinnati, 8-7, but left 10 on base compared to five for the visitors.

The Bearcats scored lone runs in the fourth, seventh and eighth innings.

Connor McVey singled up the middle in the fourth. He moved to second on a single by Woody Wallace. McVey stole third and came home on a passed ball.

Joey Thomas had an RBI single to score Vince Augustine in the seventh for a 2-0 Cincinnati lead.

Treg Haberkorn had an infield single for the Bearcats in the eighth. He stole second and went to third on a bunt hit by McVey. Ryan Noda's sacrifice fly brought in the final run.

ECU junior left-hander Evan Kruczynski (5-1) was dealt his first loss of the season. He pitched six and one-third innings, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) with three walks and two strikeouts.

Sam Lanier relieved Kruczynski, striking out the only Bearcat he faced before giving way to Matt Bridges. Bridges logged one and a third innings, surrendering an earned run on two hits in the eighth.

Chris Holba pitched a scoreless ninth for the Pirates.

Williams-Sutton and Eric Tyler each had two hits for ECU.

PAGE UPDATED 04/30/16 09:51 PM.

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