Watkins' walkoff wallop whips Wahoos

Staff report
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — A three-run homer by Travis Watkins capped a five-run ninth inning for East Carolina and provided an 8-6 walkoff win over Virginia in the winners' bracket matchup Saturday at Davenport Field.

The Cavaliers (38-21) face William & Mary (30-30 in an elimination game at 11 a.m. today. ECU (36-21-1) plays the winner of that game at 3 p.m. today. A Pirate victory would wrap up the regional title.

An ECU loss Sunday would force a deciding game in the double-elimination regional on Monday.

The Pirates trailed 6-3 going to the bottom of the ninth. Third-seeded ECU was designated the home team against the top-seeded Cavs, the defending College World Series champions.

Pinch-hitter Kirk Morgan started ECU's decisive frame with an infield single and Wesley Phillips was inserted to pinch run. Parker Lamm doubled down the left field line to score Phillips and draw the Pirates within 6-4.

Charlie Yorgen's RBI single to right cut the margin to 6-5.

A hit by Dwanya Williams-Sutton and a sacrifice bunt by Turner Brown put runners at second and third.

Watkins drove a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left-center to end the game.

ECU loaded the bases in the first inning and took a 1-0 lead as Virginia turned a double play.

The Cavs went ahead 4-1 in the third on a two-run double by Matt Thaiss and a two-run homer by Pavin Smith.

Lamm and Yorgen had singles in the bottom of the third. The runners moved up on a wild pitch. Lamm came home on a ground out to first by Turner Brown to trim the lead to 4-2.

Hits by Garrett Brooks and Eric Tyler started ECU's half of the sixth. Bryce Harman was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Luke Bolka fouled off five straight pitches before hitting a sacrifice fly that closed UVa's lead to 4-3.

Smith had his second homer of the game in the eighth and Charlie Cody had a sacrifice fly as Virginia extended its advantage to 6-3.

Joe Ingle (6-3) pitched the final one and two-thirds innings for the win. Ingle allowed no hits, no runs and struck out three while walking one.

Tommy Doyle (2-6) took the loss.

The Pirates had a 15-8 lead in hits as Yorgen went 4-for-5. Brooks went 3-for-4. Lamm and Williams-Sutton each had two hits.

PAGE UPDATED 06/06/16 12:17 AM.

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