Hoffman, ECU tame Red Storm

From electronic and staff reports
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East Carolina pushed across four runs in the first three innings and sophomore righthander Jeff Hoffman hurled seven solid innings in a 6-3 victory over St. John's Friday evening at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The Pirates (4-4) led from start to finish, starting off with junior designated hitter/pitcher Drew Reynolds' RBI double in the opening frame. Junior third baseman Zach Houchins and freshman catcher Travis Watkins added RBI singles in the second to boost the lead to 3-0.

The Red Storm (1-8) scratched together a pair of runs in the third — one unearned — on a pair of singles, a fielding error, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly.

ECU senior outfielder Philip Clark responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning for what turned out to be the decisive run.

Another fielding error opened the door for St. John's to pull within 4-3 on an unearned run in the fifth. But the Pirates answered with two scores in the bottom of the inning on doubles by junior first baseman Chase McDonald, junior outfielder Dylan Brown and Houchins.

Hoffman (2-1) picked up the win, allowing one earned and two unearned runs on seven hits and two walks. Hoffman struck out two and hit one batter in his seven innings of work.

Senior lefthander Jake Harris and righthander Reynolds each pitched a hitless, scoreless inning in relief to close out the ECU win.

St. John's starter James Lomangino (0-2) absorbed the loss, giving up six runs — all earned — on eight hits and three walks. The junior righthander fanned three in 4 2/3 innings before giving way to freshman southpaw Ryan Horstman, who whiffed four and blanked the Pirates on two hits the rest of the way.

Houchins' two hits and two RBIs paced the Pirates offensively.

The teams will continue their three-game set on Saturday at 2 p.m. The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.

PAGE UPDATED 03/03/13 02:42 PM.

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