Pirates take down conference kingpins

From electronic and staff reports
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GREENVILLE — East Carolina's Chase McDonald hit a two-run homer in a four-run fourth inning as the Pirates erased a 3-0 deficit and took a 6-3 baseball win over Conference USA leader Southern Miss at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Friday night.

ECU's ninth win in its last 11 games pushed its record to 25-21 for the season and 9-7 in C-USA.

Zach Houchins singled before McDonald's drive down the left field line cut the Golden Eagles' lead to 3-2. Jay Cannon bunted his way aboard and moved to third on a double by Dylan Brown. A walk to Travis Watkins loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly by Bryan Bass tied the score at 3.

A double steal advanced the runners before the Pirates went ahead on an infield single by Jack Reinheimer.

Pirate starter Jeff Hoffman made the lead stand up with relief help from Brett Mabry and Drew Reynolds.

Hoffman (5-5) got the win, working seven innings. The sophomore right-hander allowed six hits and five walks while striking out five. All three Southern Miss runs off Hoffman were earned.

Mabry made his 12th appearance of the season in the eighth and held the visitors scoreless.

Reynolds picked up his 12th save with a scoreless ninth.

The Pirates pushed their lead to 6-3 in the fifth on an RBI double by Ben Fultz and a sacrifice fly by Watkins.

Houchins had three of ECU's 11 hits. Fultz and Reynolds each had two hits.

Southern Miss (24-20,13-6 C-USA) had just one of its six hits after the fourth inning.

The Pirates recovered from leadoff walks in the eighth and ninth with double plays.

The outcome put ECU in a tie for third in the league standings with Rice, one game behind second place Central Florida, which is 11-7 in C-USA.

The Pirates host game two of the three-game set with the league leaders at 2 p.m. today.

PAGE UPDATED 05/04/13 10:57 PM.

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