Pirates snatch extra-inning thriller

From electronic and staff reports
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Junior outfielder Philip Clark's two-out bunt single in the bottom of the 10th drove in Zach Wright and sealed an 8-7 comeback victory for East Carolina over Conference USA foe Marshall Saturday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Clark's bunt down the third base line was the Pirates' only hit in the climactic inning. Wright reached base to lead off the frame when he was dinged by Joe Church, Marshall's fourth pitcher of the game. A senior catcher, Wright went to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore shortstop Jack Reinheimer. Wright then advanced to third on sophomore first baseman Chase McDonald's groundout, setting the stage for Clark's clutch plate appearance. 

Clark was also instrumental in a game-tying rally in the 9th that erased a 7-5 Thundering Herd lead and forced the extra inning. After singling up the middle to lead off, Clark moved to second when sophomore outfielder Ben Fultz walked. Clark then took third when sophomore designated hitter Drew Reynolds was hit by a pitch.

Clark came home on senior third baseman Corey Thompson's groundout. Fultz knotted the score moments later when he dashed across the plate on a passed ball.

Tanner Merritt (3-4) got credit for the win despite giving up two earned runs on three hits and two walks in the final 2 2/3 innings.

After taking over for junior righthander Andy Smithmyer with one out and one on in the eighth, Merritt uncorked a wild pitch, issued a walk and gave up a single and a three-run double that boosted Marshall ahead 7-5. But the sophomore righthander delivered when it mattered most, keeping the Herd off the scoreboard in the final two innings.

Junior lefthander Tyler Joyner started for the Pirates and surrendered four runs — only one of which was earned — on nine hits over four innings. With the bases loaded and none out in the fifth, Smithmyer took over the mound duties and proceeded to work 3 1/3 innings, giving up a run on two hits and a pair of walks before giving way to Merritt.

Herd starter Aaron Blair parceled out eight hits and one walk over six innings but committed a key throwing error in the 4th that opened the door for a five-run ECU outburst. Only two of the runs were earned.

Only four of Marshall's seven runs were earned as the Pirates made four errors.

The Herd, which got three hits apiece from Isaac Ballou, Nathan Gomez and Eric Escobedo, outhit ECU 14-10. Clark, Reinheimer and senior second baseman Tim Younger each had two hits for East Carolina.

Combined with their 8-2 thumping of Marshall on Friday, the Pirates moved within a game of sweeping the three-game set. Junior righthander Jharel Cotton (8-0) and Marshall senior leftie Mike Mason (4-5) are the projected starters when the teams wrap up the series on Sunday (1 p.m.)

PAGE UPDATED 05/06/12 02:23 AM.

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