Gaffney lifts UNCW

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

WILMINGTON — Chris Gaffney's three-run homer in the second inning was the big blow as UNC-Wilmington topped East Carolina 4-2 at Brooks Field on Tuesday night.

The blast to center field was the first round tripper of the season for the Seahawks catcher, who was batting seventh in the order.

Gavin Stupienski led off the second for the hosts with a single to left center. Zach Canada followed with a hit through the right side.

A sacrifice bunt by Terence Connelly moved the runners to second and third before Gaffney connected with a 1-1 pitch from Pirates lefty Reid Love for a 3-1 UNCW lead.

Charlie Yorgen had given ECU (16-9) a 1-0 lead with a home run to right in the top of the first.

The Pirates closed the gap to 3-2 with a run in the fourth after Luke Lowery was hit by a pitch. Lowery went to third on a single through the right side by Bryce Harman and scored on a sacrifice fly by Travis Watkins.

Brian Mims tripled to right for UNCW in the fifth and scored the final run of the game on a single to left by Steven Linkous.

Love (2-2) took the loss, going four and one-third innings. He yielded seven hits, four earned runs and struck out four without a walk.

The Pirates got excellent relief work from Joe Ingle and Nick Durazo with neither allowing a hit or a walk.

Ingle had seven strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings. Durazo worked the eighth, fanning two.

ECU pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts in eight innings.

Whitman Barnes (4-0) was credited with the win for UNCW (16-6).

The Pirates host High Point (11-11) at 6:30 tonight. The Panthers turned back visiting Davidson 15-2 on Tuesday night.

PAGE UPDATED 03/24/15 10:46 PM.

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