Sasser leads ECU baseball team to win

Published in Sports on February 20, 2006 2:11 PM

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GREENVILLE -- C.B. Aycock graduate Dustin Sasser pitched through sleet and snow for the second consecutive weekend to earn his first win of the season as East Carolina defeated College of Charleston 4-2 Saturday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Sasser tossed five innings in his second start of the season, giving up two runs, one earned, on eight hits while walking two and striking out three. Carter Harrell came on and pitched three crucial scoreless innings, holding the lead for Sasser, allowing just one hit while striking out three. Closer Kevin Rhodes then came on in the ninth to close the door for his first save of the season.

Lead-off man Dale Mollenhauer was the lone Pirate with multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with a run scored. Stephen Batts picked up two RBI while Jake Smith, who finished 1-for-4, brought home one.

Joey Friddle led the Cougars at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance while Phillip Coker and Oliver Marmol each finished with two hits. Larry Cobb and Alex Garabedian each collected an RBI in a losing effort.

CofC starter Nick Chigges suffered the loss, lasting 52/3 innings before giving way to the bullpen. Chigges gave up three runs, only one of which was earned, on seven hits while walking six and striking out one. Quinn Monsma relieved Chigges in the sixth and tossed 11/3 innings, giving up an unearned run while walking two and striking out two before Josh McLaughlin came on to pitch a scoreless eighth.

On Sunday, down two in the top of the ninth, College of Charleston rallied for five runs en route to an 11-8 win over ECU Sunday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Pirates fall to 4-2 on the season but still take two-of-three from their opponent for the second consecutive weekend.

Phillip Coker's two-RBI double in the top of the ninth put CofC (4-2) ahead 10-8 before the Cougars added their final run to close the scoring.

Only nine of the 19 runs scored between the two teams were earned, while CofC and ECU combined on seven errors, four for the Cougars and three for Pirates (4-2). CofC out-hit the Pirates 16-to-6, with seven different Cougars recording two hits on the day.

Stephen batts led ECU at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk, three RBI and a run scored.

Adam Witter, who finished the day without a hit, scored three runs, reaching base twice on a walk and once on a fielder's choice. Dale Mollenhauer

Chris Powell suffered the loss in relief, giving up three runs, on earned, on three hits in 32/3 innings. Starter Shane Mathews allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out five in 42/3 innings of work. Brody Taylor made his first appearance since 2004, allowing two runs on two hits without recording an out. Josh Dowdy and Scott Andrews each recorded an out in the ninth with Dowdy giving up two unearned runs on three hits and Andrews picking up a strikeout.