May 24, 2007

Final Stats

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Harrison Eldridge stole home with the bases-loaded and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to score the winning run and lead East Carolina to a 2-1 victory over Southern Miss, tonight, at Clark-LeClair Stadium in front of 2,633 in attendance.

The Golden Eagles brought in Tyler Conn to pitch the 10th inning. Eldridge hit a one-out single to left field, Ryan Wood walked and both advanced a base on a Conn wild pitch. Broc Sutton was intentionally walked to load the bases before Eldridge scored the winning run.

Shane Mathews (4-3) earned the victory, pitching the final inning, giving up two walks. Conn (1-2) was credited with the loss, pitching one-third of an inning, giving up one run on one hit and walking two batters.

In the ninth inning, Kyle Roller hit a one-out single through the left side and Stephen Batts doubled to right field to put runners on second and third. Ryan Tousley was intentionally walked to load the bases. Jamie Ray flew out to center to plate Roller, the tying run. Jake Dean was intentionally walked to load the bases, before Ezell struck out Drew Schreiber to end the inning.

Blount reached on a one-out walk in the 10th inning, advanced to second on Michael Ewing's ground out to second and Keith Winstead was intentionally walked. Pinch hitter Jordan King ground out to third base to end the inning.

Barry Bowden had an outstanding pitching performance once again, pitching eight strong innings, giving up four hits, two walks and striking out five batters before Patrick Ezell came on in relief in the ninth inning. Bowden has now pitched 17 scoreless innings.

With the loss, the Golden Eagles 11-game winning streak was snapped. Southern Miss will face conference-rival Tulane at 6:30 p.m. CT, on Friday, May 25, in the second elimination game of the day. The first elimination game will feature UCF and Memphis at 3 p.m. CT.

The game was scoreless until Blount blasted his sixth homer of the season off the scoreboard in right center field in the sixth inning.

Southern Miss (38-20) scored one run on eight hits, while East Carolina (38-20) scored two runs on seven hits and committed one error.

Blount led the Golden Eagles with two hits and one RBI, and Bo Davis finished with two hits. Wood led ECU with two hits, and Ray finished with the only RBI for the Pirates.

Sutton missed his first game of the season, tonight, as he was out after injuring his knee in yesterday's victory over UAB. He suffered an injury in his left knee and is out at this time.