ECU Falls 6-5 on Walk-off Run to Memphis Sunday Afternoon
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Zach Schritenthal’s walk-off single in the ninth inning scored Cody Duncan from third base lifting Memphis to a 6-5 win over No. 23 East Carolina in game three of an American Athletic Conference series Sunday afternoon at FedExPark. With the win the Tigers avoid its first sweep since 2012 and improve to 13-23 overall and 4-5 in league play, while the Pirates drop to 23-12 and 5-4.
Nolan Blackwood (1-2) picked up the win tossing three innings of relief where he allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts. Starter Matt Ferguson gave up three runs (all earned) on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts in a no-decision, while Alex Hicks gave up a pair of hits and walked one in one-third of an inning.
Evan Voliva (0-2) suffered the loss giving up the winning run in the ninth inning with two outs. The right-hander walked two and struck out one in 1.2 innings. Jacob Wolfe surrendered two runs (one earned) on six hits with a pair of walks, four strikeouts and two wild pitches in 4.1 innings. ECU used three hurlers out of its bullpen to bridge the gap to Voliva in Sam Lanier (0.2 IP, 1 R), Joe Ingle (1.1 IP, 2 Rs) and Chris Holba (0.2 IP, 1 K).
ECU recorded double-digit hits for the third-straight game (22nd time this season) with 10 on the afternoon. A quartet of Pirates had two base knocks in Garrett Brooks, Parker Lamm, Zack Mozingo and Charlie Yorgen, who drove in two of ECU’s five runs.
Brandon Grudzielanek led the Tigers with three hits, while Jake Little and Jake Overbey each added a pair.
How It Happened:Andy Bowman opened the bottom of the ninth with a walk and was immediately lifted for Duncan as a pinch runner. Damo DeMatteo’s sac bunt back to Voliva in front of the mound moved Duncan into scoring position and two batters later, Colton Neel’s fly ball moved Duncan to third base setting up the game-winning run.
Memphis struck first scoring three runs on a pair of ECU wild pitches and two errors taking a 3-0 lead in the fifth. Grudsielanek singled to start the frame, took second on a wild pitch and throwing error by Travis Watkins before scoring on another Wolfe wild pitch. Little crossed home on a Lanier wild pitch and Trent Turner scored when DeMatteo reached on the second error of the inning, this time from Eric Tyler at third base.
ECU tied the game at three in the top of the sixth – all with two outs. Watkins singled to right center with one out and landed on third following two out walks by Turner Brown and Kirk Morgan. Yorgen stepped to the plate delivering a two-out single that pushed across Watkins and Brown. Lamm followed with a double to left field scoring Nelson. On the play, Yorgen was thrown out at the plate ending the stanza.
Jake Elliott’s RBI triple and Chris Carrier’s runs scoring double gave Memphis a 5-3 lead. Neel drew an opening frame walk and scored on Elliott’s three-base hit to center. Carrier followed with a double to right center easily plating Elliott.
Up Next:ECU will return home for the first time in two weeks when it plays host to instate rival No. 12 N.C. State for a midweek matchup. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (ET) and will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
