April 5, 2008

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss took advantage of six ECU errors to defeat the Pirates 6-5 in 13 innings Saturday afternoon in the first game of the double headed at Pete Taylor Park.

James Ewing hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to force the game into extra innings and added two RBI in the 12th to push the game one more frame before the Golden Eagles eventually won in the 13th inning.

Drew Carson had three hits including the game tying RBI and scored the winning run in the 13th inning.

East Carolina keep the Golden Eagles in the game with six errors, five by shortstop Ryan Wood, including three errors in extra innings.

Todd McInnis had another quality start for Southern Miss, throwing seven innings allowing only two runs on six hits. Wade Weathers and Tyler Conn were both outstanding out of the pen for the Golden Eagles.

Weathers worked two innings and surrendered one hit and walked one while striking out one. Conn extended his streak of not allowing an earned run to 17 innings on the season while striking out three in his two innings of work.

The game was scoreless until ECU was able to score the game's first run in the top of the sixth inning. First baseman Brandon Henderson singles to left field then advanced to third on a wild pick off attempt by McInnis. He came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Harrison Eldridge, for a 1-0 Pirate lead.

Southern Miss tallied their first run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Drew Carson continued his hot streak with an RBI single. Corey Stevens walked to start the inning then stole second and went to third on a single by Keith Winstead. Carson followed by flipping a single into left field to tie the game.

McInnis then allowed a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to catcher Corey Kemp put the Pirates

James Ewing blasted his second home run of the season to lead off the top of the tenth inning to tie the game and force extra innings.

As the game headed into extra innings it was scoreless until the 12th inning then ECU put up three runs in the top of the 12 appearing to take the game. The Pirates scored three runs, two unearned, on two hits and a Southern Miss error.

In the bottom of the 12th Drew Carson started the rally, reaching on a throwing error by ECU third baseman Dustin Harrington and advanced to second. Josh Fields reached on a fielder's choice and scored along with Carson on Michael Ewing's RBI single. Brian Dozier followed with a ground ball right at the second base man but shortstop Ryan Wood could not take the flip for the game ending double play and Bo Davis raced home to score the tying run.

Southern Miss won the game in the bottom of the 13th, with more help from the ECU defense. Keith Winstead reached on shortstop Ryan Wood's fifth error of the game, this time a throwing error to allow Winstead to advance to second base. Drew Carson laid down a bunt single and Adam Doleac was intentionally walked to load the bases. Josh Fields struck out swinging but the ball bounced to the backstop allowing Carson to score the winnings run.