Pirates take series at UCF, 7-1

Staff report
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ORLANDO — Jimmy Boyd pitched seven innings and freshman Matt Bridges added two scoreless innings of relief as East Carolina clinched its American Athletic Conference series at Central Florida with a 7-1 win Friday.

The Pirates improved to 33-19-1 overall and 14-8-1 in league play going into the series finale at 11 a.m. today.

ECU took a 5-3 win in the opener with the Knights on Thursday.

Boyd (7-4) allowed five hits and did not issue a walk while striking out seven. Bridges yielded one hit and struck out three after the game was halted for two hours and 41 minutes for rain.

ECU took a 1-0 lead in the second and added a pair of runs in the third.

Turner Brown was hit by a pitch by Juan Pimentel (3-7) to start the second. Brown moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a single by Travis Watkins.

Brown scored as Eric Tyler hit into a fielder's choice that retired Watkins at second.

Garrett Brooks started the third with a single and advanced to second as Parker Lamm reached on a one-out error. Lamm was out on a fielder's choice that put Brooks at third and Charlie Yorgen at first.

A triple by freshman Dwanya Williams-Sutton scored two runs for a 3-0 Pirates lead.

ECU pushed its advantage to 4-0 in the fifth after Lamm reached on an error to start the inning. Yorgen singled through the left side to move Lamm to second.

A double steal put the runners at second and third with Lamm scoring on a ground out by Brown.

UCF (25-30, 8-15) pulled within 4-1 in the sixth. Eli Putnam had a one-out single and took third on the play on a Pirate error. He scored an unearned run on a single to right by Matt Diorio.

Kirk Morgan had a three-run double in the eighth for a 7-1 Pirates lead. Watkins singled, Tyler was hit by a pitch and Brooks walked before Morgan pinch hit for Luke Bolka.

ECU held an 8-6 lead in hits as Watkins went 3-for-3.

PAGE UPDATED 05/21/16 02:58 AM.

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