Harrington has career day for ECU

By ECU Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 22, 2010 1:47 PM

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GREENVILLE -- Junior Dustin Harrington batted a career-best 6-for-6 with two home runs and six RBI, leading No. 16-ranked East Carolina to a 16-2 shellacking of Monmouth on Sunday afternoon.

On an overcast day, the Pirates' offensive and pitching units shined at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. ECU pounded out 19 hits, while 6-foot-5 Mike Wright carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Normally a reliever, Wright faced one batter over the minimum after five innings. He finished with a career-best eight strikeouts in 51/3 innings, and permitted two runs on three hits before giving way to bullpen mate Jake Harris.

The Pirates (11-8 overall) took an early 3-0 lead during their first at-bat on a two-run shot by Kyle Roller to right center, the 45th home run of his career. Zach Wright pushed across the game-winning run on a double to right field that scored Corey Thompson, who tripled to left center just moments before Wright stepped to the plate.

ECU added a pair of runs in the second to extend its lead to 5-0. Harrington drove in his first run with a single up the middle that scored Austin Homan before coming around to score himself on Thompson's infield single to third.

The offensive attack continued in the third when Cam Freeman scored on Trent Whitehead's single that was bobbled by the right fielder O'Neill. Harrington followed Whitehead with the first of two home runs on the day, a two-run shot over the batter's eye in center putting ECU up 8-0.

ECU added six runs in the fourth, which was highlighted by a pair of three-run homers coming off the bats of Devin Harris and Harrington for a 14-0 advantage.

Monmouth avoided the shutout in the sixth inning.

The Pirates continue a stretch of 13 consecutive home games when they entertain in-state rival High Point University on Tuesday. First pitch is 6 p.m.