Pirates outlast Elon in 10-inning battle

From electronic and staff reports
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After a pitching duel left both teams scoreless heading into the final inning, East Carolina and Elon matched each other with two runs apiece in the ninth before the Pirates finally gained the advantage in the tenth for a 3-2 victory Tuesday night at Latham Park.

Starter Jeff Hoffman put on one of East Carolina's most impressive mound performances of the season, fanning ten and keeping base runners to a minimum in his eight-inning stint. The freshman righthander faced only 29 batters, hog-tying the Phoenix (19-15) on three hits with one walk and one hit batsman before designated hitter Drew Reynold took over the pitching duties in the ninth.

Sophomore righthander David Whitehead hurled six shutout innings for Elon. Whitehead, who surrendered six hits and three walks and dinged a pair of batters, yielded to junior righthander Jordan Darnell in the seventh.

Darnell (0-1) kept the shutout going for 2 2/3 innings before the Pirates (23-8-1) came alive with two outs in the ninth. After senior catcher Zach Wright walked and advanced to third on junior pinch-hitter/outfielder Bryan Bass's single, sophomore shortstop Jack Reinheimer banged a double to left center to drive in both runners, setting the stage for the apparent triumph.

But the 2-0 lead didn't last through the bottom half of the frame as the Phoenix got to Reynolds for two runs, one earned. Alex Swim singled, moved to second on an infield out and then scored when East Carolina centerfielder Ben Fultz dropped designated hitter Joey Tomko's fly ball after a collision. Blaine Bower, who pinch ran for Tomko, raced to third on Garrett Koster's single and then stole home on a double steal with Koster to force extra innings.

Senior second baseman Tim Younger led off the tenth with a double to left and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Reynolds. Junior first baseman John Wooten then lifted a fly ball to center, giving Younger time to score what would turn out to be the decisive run.

Reynolds (3-0) retired the Phoenix in order in the bottom of the inning.

East Carolina returns home for a matchup with Old Dominion on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Pirates thumped the Monarchs 10-4 in Norfolk on Feb. 22.

PAGE UPDATED 04/11/12 05:37 AM.

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