ECU Falls to Tennessee 5-2 in Game Two of the Keith LeClair Classic
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Zach Warren allowed a pair of runs over 6.2 innings, while Jordan Rodgers drove in three runs guiding Tennessee (7-2) to a 5-2 win over No. 16 East Carolina (7-3) Saturday afternoon in the 13th Annual LeClair Classic, which was being played at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Warren improved to 3-0 on the season surrendering both runs in the seventh inning. The junior lefty allowed eight hits, walked three and tied a career-high with seven strikeouts. Steven Kane worked a 1.1 innings of scoreless relief with a pair of walks and strikeouts, while Jon Lipinski picked up his third save of the year with a clean ninth frame.
Jacob Wolfe (2-1) suffered his firs loss of the year giving up four runs (one earned) on seven this with two punch outs in seven innings. Davis Kirkpatrick made his fourth appearance out of the bull pen allowing a run (earned) on three hits in two frames.
Nick Senzel recorded a game-high three hits, while teammates Max Bartlett and Derek Lance added a pair each recording seven of the Vols 10 base knocks. Senzel scored a game-high three runs and Rodgers drove in three.
Kirk Morgan collected two of the Pirates eight hits, while six others added one on the day. Lamm extended his hit streak to a personal-best 11 games with a single up the middle to start the game. Eric Tyler drove in the Pirates lone runs with his second double of the season.
How It Happened:Tennessee jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning getting singles from Chris Hall and Senzel, and taking advantage of a pair of Pirate defensive miscues. Jeff Moberg reached on error to begin the first inning, Hall followed with a single and Senzel plated the games first run on a sing through the left side.
Vincent Jackson kept the inning going when he was hit by a Wolfe pitch loading the bases for Rodgers, who reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Hall to score. The final run of the frame came when Tyler Schultz reached on a fielding error by Wolfe during his sac bunt attempt that pushed across Senzel.
The Vols added to their lead in the sixth making it a 4-0 ball game. Senzel led off with a double down the left field line and took third on a failed pickoff attempt. Two batters later he darted home when Rodgers flied out to left field.
ECU finally broke through in the seventh pulling within two, 4-2. Turner Brown, Friday’s hero, singled to center to begin the stanza. With one out, Charlie Yorgen single to left and two batters later, Tyler doubled to right field clearing the bases.
Rodgers’ lone hit of the ball game plated Senzel for the third time in the contest capping the scoring at 5-2.
Up Next:ECU will close out the LeClair Classic Sunday, Mar. 6 when it hosts Maryland (5-4) in the final game of the weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (EST).
