May 19, 2005

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. - With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Adam Witter's single delivered an 8-7 East Carolina victory over Saint Louis tonight to open a three-game Conference USA series at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Billikens tied the game with two runs in the top of the eighth on Jon Guyre's single up the middle but could not regain the lead. Saint Louis out-hit the Pirates 13-11, including home runs from sophomore Bill Musselman and senior Pat Steinhoff, the first of his career.

The Billikens struck first in the top of the first with Steinhoff's solo shot to right field. Johnny Sweeney roped a double to center field and advanced to third when Brian Cavanaugh misplayed the ball. Scott Peden made it a 2-0 lead with a single up the middle. SLU starter Lance Rhodes looked to have the Pirates under control in the bottom of the frame, recording the first two outs quickly. A walk and a hit batter set the stage for Drew Costanzo's three-run home run down the right field line. Rhodes gave up a single and another walk, but held the deficit at 3-2.

Saint Louis tied the game in the top of the third on Peden's RBI single to third, which brought John Bridges home. After Rhodes worked around trouble in the bottom of the fifth, the Billikens again took the lead in the top of the sixth. After Patrick Valdez lined a one-out single to center, Musselman unloaded on a home run to left center for a 5-3 lead.

Again, the Pirates wasted little time in rising to the Billikens' challenge. A single, an error and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Mark Minicozzi tied the game at 5-5 with a single up the middle, which also sent Rhodes to the dugout in favor of Eric Brewer. The freshman left-hander unloaded a wild pitch to put runners on second and third, and Constanzo added two more RBI to his total with a single up the middle. Brewer yielded a single, a wild pitch and a walk, but got out of the inning trailing just 7-5.

ECU reliever Brett Braxton retired the Bills in order in the top of the seventh, but gave up three singles to open the eight. With the bases loaded Braxton recorded his only strikeout of the outing, then turned the game over to P.J. Connelly. The senior southpaw, fanned the second hitter of the inning only to see Guyre deliver with a two-out single up the middle to knot the game at 7-7. Brewer fanned Witter to open the bottom of the eighth, and B.J. Rodrigue came in to retire the final two hitters of the inning and leave a pair of runners stranded.

Saint Louis went down in order in the top of the ninth to set the stage for the home team's rally. After giving up a leadoff single, Rodrigue recorded the first two outs on a pair of ground balls. Cavanaugh stole second, and the Bills chose to intentionally walk Dale Mollenhauer. Witter came up with the two-out heroics with a single to left deep enough to plate Cavanaugh from second.

Connelly captured the win to improve to 5-1 on the season, while Rodrigue suffered his fourth loss of the season. Costanzo's five RBI led all hitters, while Peden's three hits were a game-high as well.

The two teams face off again on Fri., May 20, at 5 p.m. (CT)

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