Pirates hold off UCF, take series

By Al Myatt
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GREENVILLE — East Carolina reliever Joe Ingle struck out Central Florida's Dylan Moore on a full count pitch with two out in the top of the ninth inning on Saturday with two runners in scoring position as the Pirates took a 3-2 American Athletic Conference win at Clark-LeClair Stadium before a crowd of 2,441.

ECU's Reid Love (4-3) retired the first two batters he faced in the ninth with the Pirates holding a 3-0 lead. A walk to Derrick Salberg on four pitches started a rally for the Knights and Kyle Marsh singled through the right side. Ingle relieved Love to face pinch hitter Logan Heiser, who singled through the left side to score Salberg. Josh Messer came in to pinch run for Heiser. JoMarcus Woods reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Marsh to score and trim ECU's lead to 3-2 before Ingle recorded the Pirates' 10th strikeout of the game for ECU's fifth straight one-run win.

The outcome clinched the series for the Pirates (28-16, 8-6 AAC) with the finale in the series scheduled for 11 a.m. today. ECU won the opener, 6-5, in 10 innings on Friday night.

Garrett Brooks hit his first career home run to lead off the bottom of the third and put the Pirates ahead to stay.

Love, who struck out a career-high nine Knights while allowing six hits and walking one, singled up the middle to start ECU's half of the fourth. Eric Tyler followed with a single to center. Bryce Harman drove in a run for a 2-0 Pirates lead with a sharp single through the right side. Tyler scored on a throwing error as Travis Watkins got aboard on a fielder's choice for a 3-0 Pirates lead.

Love, Tyler and Harman had two hits each for ECU. Hunter Allen extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Jordan Savinon had two hits for UCF (26-18, 5-9). Cre Finfrock (6-4) started and went seven innings for the Knights.

Pirates left-hander Jacob Wolfe, who is 2-1 with a 2.91 earned run average, is scheduled to start today against right-hander Robby Howell (4-5, 5.47).

PAGE UPDATED 04/26/15 01:23 AM.

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