Published: February 23, 2007
GREENVILLE, N.C.
East Carolina (3-5) scored two runs in the second inning and
three more in the eighth to pull away from St. John's (0-4) in a
pitcher's duel at the ECU Invitational on Friday evening. Junior
left-hander
Matt Tosoni allowed just five hits and two earned runs in seven
innings, but Pirates starter T.J. Hose and a group of three
relievers held the Red Storm attack to four hits and a run in the
opener of ECU's home tournament.
Tosoni worked into the eighth inning in his first start of the
season, but picked up a loss after leaving with a 2-1 deficit. The
junior needed just 88 pitches in seven-plus innings and threw 57
for strikes.
Anthony Smith,
Nick Luisi and
James Lally each recorded an out apiece, as St. John's used
five different pitchers in the eighth inning.
Five different players accounted for the Red Storm's five hits,
and
Sam DeLuca drove in
Chris Joachim in the first inning for the team's lone run.
DeLuca, who had the team's only extra-base hit,
Chris Anninos and
Brendan Monaghan all reached base twice.
Joachim got things started in the first with a flare single into
shallow right field and went from first to home on DeLuca's second
double of the year - a deep shot to the warning track in center
field.
Tosoni struck out two and left a runner in scoring position in
the bottom of the first, but the Pirates struck with two runs in
the their half of the second. A two-out RBI single by Drew Schieber
plated Corey Kemp with the first run, and Schieber scored on a
double steal to give ECU a 2-1 lead after two innings.
Only three runners advanced into scoring position over the next
six innings, as both starting pitchers mowed through their opposing
lineups. Tosoni allowed just two hits after the second inning and
left with no outs and a runner on first base in the eighth.
Smith relieved Tosoni in the eighth and faced one batter,
inducing a popout on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Dale Mollenhauer.
B.J. Martin then entered and allowed a stolen base, infield
single and intentional walk to load the bases. Harrison Eldridge
scored on a groundout and Brandon Henderson and Ryan Tousley on an
RBI single by Stephen Batts to stretch the Pirate lead to 5-1.
Shane Mathews struck out the side in the top of the ninth to
close the game and help the Pirates snap a four-game losing
streak.
The Red Storm is back in action with two games at the ECU
Invitational on Saturday. Sophomore LHP
Scott Barnes (0-0, 5.40 ERA) is the scheduled starter vs. Duke
at 11 a.m., and sophomore RHP
Jared Yecker (0-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. Washington at 7 p.m.