Younger's walk-off single lifts ECU past Youngstown St.

By ECU Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 20, 2011 1:51 AM

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ECU Sports Information

GREENVILLE -- Second baseman Tim Younger drove a 3-1 pitch to right field scoring Philip Clark from third in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel East Carolina to a 1-0 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Younger, a JUCO transfer from St. Petersburg (Fla.) College, made his only official at-bat count when he stepped to the plate with runners on the corner and no outs in the ninth. Clark drew a walk to start the frame and moved into scoring position after stealing second.

True freshman Jack Reinheimer atoned for his error in the top half of the inning when he beat out a throw to first on a bunt single setting up Younger's game-winning hit.

In a pitcher's duel that saw both staffs combine for 20 strikeouts, ECU junior Kevin Brandt (1-0) pitched four innings of near perfect relief allowing just two of 14 hitters to reach base (walk and hit) while striking out five for his first win of the season and seventh career win out of the bullpen.

Starter Zach Woods scatter three hits and punched out five in five innings of work before handing the ball over to Brandt.

The Pirates (2-0 overall) and Penguins (0-2) conclude their three-game series today.