ECU nips N.C. State

By ECU Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 21, 2012 1:48 PM

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ECU

Sports Information

GREENVILLE -- Philip Clark laced the go-ahead, tie-breaking RBI single to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning and No. 25-ranked East Carolina upset No. 11-ranked N.C. State, 6-5, at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Tied at 4-all, Tim Younger started the Pirates' rally with a double down the left-field line. After a flyout and Younger was called safe on Jack Reinheimer's fielder's choice sacrifice bunt, Clark hit a frozen rope over NC State second baseman Matt Bergquist's head. Younger scored to put ECU ahead, 5-4.

The Wolfpack called on reliever Danny Healey, who issued a walk to Corey Thompson. Healey uncorked a wild pitch during John Wooten's at-bat, which allowed Reinheimer to give the Pirates a two-run cushion, 6-4.

NC State (15-4 overall) prevented further damage by catching Clark in a rundown and getting an inning-ending strikeout from Healey, who surrendered two hits in 22/3 innings of work.

Junior Andy Smithmyer (2-0) tossed three innings of scoreless relief and logged five striekouts for the Pirates. Drew Reynolds notched his team- and Conference USA-leading seventh save of the season.

Wooten and senior catcher Zach Wright each batted 1-for-4 in the three-hour marathon which was played before nearly 5,000 fans.

ECU (15-4) travels to High Point U on Wednesday and opens its CUSA season with a three-game series at UCF, which starts Friday.