Fast start lifts ECU

By Al Myatt
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All rights reserved.

STORRS, CT — East Carolina scored four runs with two out in the first inning and the Pirates went on to a 7-3 American Athletic Conference win at Connecticut on Friday afternoon.

The Pirates got successive singles from Travis Watkins, Eric Tyler, Luke Lowery, Kirk Morgan and Bryce Harman in their opening at-bat. The Huskies also committed an error to complete the scoring sequence in the first frame.

Pirate pitchers Evan Kruczynski and Nick Durazo effectively protected the lead. Kruczynski (6-2) started and went six innings. He allowed eight hits and three earned runs while walking two and striking out two. Durazo went the final three innings. He didn't allow a hit or a walk although he hit one batter. Durazo struck out three in earning his second save.

UConn (24-14, 5-5 AAC) scored lone runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings.

The Pirates pushed their lead to 5-2 in the fifth after Hunter Allen led off with a single up the middle. Charlie Yorgen's sacrifice bunt moved him to second and Allen went to third on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Watkins allowed Allen to score.

Lowery singled to right center to start the sixth. He advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Morgan and scored on a single by Parker Lamm for a 6-2 ECU lead.

The Pirates added a run in the ninth following a one-out walk to Garrett Brooks. He moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on a failed pickoff attempt. Allen's sacrifice fly produced the final run.

Lowery was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI as ECU outhit their hosts, 10-8. The Pirates were errorless while the Huskies committed three miscues.

Morgan had two hits with an RBI and scored a run as ECU improved to 23-15 overall and 5-5 in league play.

The second matchup in the three-game series is today at 1 p.m.

PAGE UPDATED 04/18/15 02:01 AM.

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