ECU's Sasser gets first win

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 1, 2004 1:55 PM

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GREENVILLE -- For the second time in two days, East Carolina knocked off No. 11 Clemson with a 6-4 win in the fifth game of the Keith LeClair Invitational Sunday afternoon.

Darryl Lawhorn went 3-for-5 with three RBI and freshman left-hander and Charles B. Aycock graduate Dustin Sasser picked up his first career win.

Sasser relieved ECU starter Ricky Brooks in the middle of the sixth and threw the final 32Ú3 innings. Sasser struck out three and gave up one earned run on two hits. Brooks allowed three runs in 51Ú3 innings. Stephen Faris took the loss for the Tigers. He allowed two earned runs in 31Ú3 inning and added three strikeouts. Tony Sipp started the game for Clemson. Sipp tallied seven strikeouts in four innings.

East Carolina rallied for three runs in the final three innings. Ryan Jones' career-high fifth home run of the season gave ECU the lead back, 5-4, in the top of the eighth. Billy Richardson followed with a walk and advanced to second on an error. Jamie Paige reached on a fielder's choice putting a runner in scoring position. Darryl Lawhorn's RBI single to center field plated Richardson putting ECU ahead, 6-4.

The Tigers took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Lou Santagello's three-run homer with one out put Clemson ahead, 4-3. Darryl Lawhorn's second home run of the season, a solo shot to right center field, tied the game, 4-4.

ECU took a 1-0 lead on Darryl Lawhorn's single to center field scoring Jamie Paige. Paige and Trevor Lawhorn both started off the top of the third with back-to-back singles. Ryan Norwood's sacrifice fly made it 2-0 in favor of the Pirates.

Clemson cut into its deficit in the bottom of the third. Zane Green's RBI single drove in Ryan Hub as the Tigers only trailed, 2-1.

The Pirates pushed its lead to 3-1 in the top of the fourth. After John Poppert singled to lead off the inning, Sipp struck out the next two batters. Paige and Trevor Lawhorn both walked to load the bases. Poppert scored on a wild pitch for the Pirates third run of the game.

ECU 7, Georgia Southern 4

GREENVILLE -- Trevor Lawhorn finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI and freshman right-hander Shane Mathews won his first game as East Carolina impoved to 12-0 on the season with a 7-4 win over Georgia Southern in the finale of the Keith LeClair Invitational.

Clemson shut out Georgia Southern in the first game Sunday, 9-0, for their second shutout of the tournament.

Mathews came on in relief of starter P.J. Connelly and threw one inning striking out one. Connelly earned the no decision going 52Ú3 innings and allowing only two runs on two hits. Kevin Rhodes picked up his first save of the season. Rhodes threw two scoreless innings and struck out three Eagles. Everett Teaford pitched well for the Eagles as he suffered his first loss. Teaford allowed four runs on five hits in six innings and struck out four Pirates.

Trevor Lawhorn launched his fifth home run of the season. Logan Phillips and Brandon Long each had two hits for the Eagles.

East Carolina regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Mark Minicozzi's three-run home run, his second homer in two days, put the Pirates back on top, 4-2. The Pirates increased their lead to 7-2 with three more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Darryl Lawhorn doubled in Jamie Paige and his twin brother, Trevor. Mike Grace then reached on an error to score Darryl Lawhorn.

Georgia Southern rallied in the top of the eighth. The Eagles had two men on with no outs and the tying run on deck. Logan Phillips hit an RBI double and and Brandon Ponder grounded to score another run as the Eagles trailed 7-4. Rhodes then retired the side.

ECU finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. Trevor Lawhorn's lofted his fifth home run of the season over the right field wall giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Georgia Southern took its first lead of the tournament in the top of the sixth. Greg Dowling singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Grant Burrus then walked. After Mathews struck out Grant Burrus, Logan Phillips doubled down the right field line giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

ECU will travel to No. 7 Arizona State next weekend for a three-game series. Arizona State swept three games from Connecticut over the weekend.