Spring Break
Pirates use sixth inning rally to dethrone Monarchs
Michael Perry
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports
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ECU took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a three-run rally to pull ahead of the Monarchs.
ODU brought in relief pitcher Brett Harris to face Pirate pinch hitter Austin Homan, but the Pirates took advantage of the fresh meat.
With ECU down by one run and with two men on base, Homan tied things up as he sent one to left field to bring home Dustin Harrington. Trent Whitehead drove in the go-ahead run and Ryan Wood kept the rally going as he also drove a man in to put the Pirates up 5-3.
The Pirates (6-1), allowed the Monarchs (3-5) an early three-run lead in the top of the fourth, but ECU reliever Brad Mincey gave up no runs to the Monarchs as they went scoreless against the right-handed Wilmington native.
"He was our momentum changer tonight," ECU head coach Billy Godwin said of Mincey.
ECU chipped away at the ODU lead, scoring one in the fourth and one in the fifth. Then, the Diamond Bucs' bats heated up, as they put up two three-run rallies in the sixth and eighth innings to dethrone the Monarchs.
ODU got out to a good start when it worked out of a dangerous situation, with ECU loading the bases with one out. Monarchs' southpaw, Kyle Hald, retired the peak of the lineup, striking out Stephen Batts and clean-up Brandon Henderson, leaving the bases loaded.
In the top of the fifth inning, ECU brought in Mincey to cripple the ODU offense. Mincey and the Pirate infielders left the Monarchs high and dry, going three up and three down.
Getting hot with the stick, ECU managed to save the win for Mincey, who never allowed another Monarch to cross the plate.
"As long as the defense is doing good, there's not doubt in my mind we'll score runs," said Mincey.
The Pirates ravaged the ODU bullpen, as they forced it to cycle through five relievers. Unfortunately for the Monarchs, they could not find a cure for ECU's hitting fever.
ECU nailed the coffin shut, scoring three runs in the eighth inning. Leadoff hitter Trent Whitehead sent one right back at the pitcher and into center for a leadoff single.
Then, Wood's sacrifice bunt brought home Whitehead all the way from first. Monarch pitcher Gerard Hall dove for the bunt and missed; the third baseman attempted to make the hurried throw and overthrew the bag, allowing Wood to advance to third, giving the Pirates a 6-3 lead.
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CATHY & PAUL WILSON
posted 3/18/09 @ 8:30 PM EST
This article was very detailed with action. For a new writer we must admit it is very interesting since we don't ususally read this type of articles. (Continued…)
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