ECU's nemesis strikes again

Staff report
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CLEARWATER, FL — South Florida continued its role as American Athletic Conference nemesis for East Carolina on Wednesday with a 4-2 win over the Pirates in ECU's league tournament opener.

The Bulls (24-31) took two of three from the Pirates (34-20-1) in a regular-season series in Greenville in mid-May.

USF took advantage of five walks in the top of the ninth inning to score two runs for a 4-2 lead.

ECU had two baserunners with two out in the bottom of the ninth as Parker Lamm singled and Charlie Yorgen walked before a strikeout ended the game.

USF, seeded seventh for the tournament, struck first with two runs in the top of the seventh. David Villar started the inning with a double off ECU starter Evan Kruczynski. Cameron Montgomery followed with a single that moved Villar to third. Duke Stunkel's sacrifice fly to center brought in Villar. Kevin Merrell's single up the middle scored Montgomery for a 2-0 USF lead.

ECU, the No. 2 seed, answered in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of runs. Eric Tyler had a one-out double before Garrett Brooks walked with two away. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third before Kirk Morgan's two-run double tied the score.

USF used its three starting pitchers from the series in Greenville. Brandon Lawson went seven innings. Joe Cavallaro (6-3) pitched the eighth and Phoenix Sanders pitched the ninth for his first save of the season.

Matt Bridges (2-1) took the loss for ECU, walking Stunkel, who later scored on a base-loaded walk to Luke Maglich by Joe Ingle for the go-ahead run in the ninth.

Yorgen and Brooks each had two hits for the Pirates, who loaded the bases with one out in the eighth but didn't score.

ECU faces Memphis, a 6-2 loser to Connecticut on Wednesday, in an elimination game at 11 a.m. today.

PAGE UPDATED 05/26/16 02:11 AM.

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