Pirates claim 19th straight CUSA win

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 9, 2004 2:00 AM

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Carter Harrell held Saint Louis to one earned run through seven innings and Ryan Norwood finished 3-for-4 with two RBI as fifth-ranked East Carolina picked up its 40th win of the season, 7-1, Saturday afternoon at the Billiken Sports Center.

The Pirates (40-7, 20-3 C-USA) won their 19th straight Conference USA game.

Jamie Paige, Ryan Jones Mike Grace and Brett Lindgren each had a pair hits as ECU out-hit the Billikens, 14-7. Harrell scattered seven hits over seven innings before giving way to Mike Flye who tossed the final two scoreless innings. Kris Weber took the loss for Saint Louis as he surrendered six earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. Aaron Thompson went 2-for-4 for the Billikens.

Grace tripled in Jones after Jones' 21st double of the season giving ECU an early, 1-0, lead in the top of the first. Jones now needs one double to tie the single-season school record (22). Jones drove in Jamie Paige putting the Pirates ahead, 2-0, in the third.

Three runs came across in the top of the fifth for ECU pushing the Pirates ahead, 5-0. Grace's second RBI hit of the game made it, 3-0. Ryan Norwood doubled in a run and Jake Smith's sacrifice fly ended the scoring in the top of the fifth.

Jake Smith singled in Norwood in the top of the seventh with two outs extending the East Carolina to, 6-0.

Saint Louis used three straight singles with two outs to rally for one run in the bottom of the seventh. Casey Moore and Bill Musselman hit back-to-back singles. Aaron Thompson singled in Moore pulling the Billikens within, 6-1.

Norwood's 12th home run of the season extended the lead to 7-1 in the top of the ninth.

East Carolina and Saint Louis will play for the final game of the series today at noon.

Shane Mathews will start for the Pirates and faces Ryan Bird.