Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

UCLA 7, ECU 6 (PDF)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Despite scoring four runs in the final four frames, the East Carolina baseball team could not overcome a four-run sixth inning by the UCLA Bruins as it dropped the final game of a three-game series 7-6 Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Trailing 7-2 in the top of the seventh inning, ECU (2-4) scored a pair of runs in the inning when Harrison Eldridge drove home freshman Broc Sutton from second with a single to center field before advancing to second on a fielding error. Eldridge would then score on a Dale Mollenhauer grounder to second to pull within three, 7-4.

Brandon Henderson connected on his second solo shot of the day to lead off the top of the eighth on the first pitch that he saw from Paul Schmidt, closing the gap to 7-5. In the next frame (top ninth) senior David Forbes took a Schmidt 1-2 pitch over the left field wall to closeout the scoring 7-6.

UCLA (6-4) put together their four-run inning in the bottom of the sixth when Cody Decker sent a Josh Ruhlman pitch down the left field line that cleared the bases. With two outs in the inning, Carrithers doubled to right-center, moved to third on an infield single by Penniall. For the second time in the game, Crawford drew an intentional walk and scored when Stewart was hit by a Powell pitch.

Bruin stater Gavin Brooks picked up his first win of the year after working five innings, scattering six hits and allowing two runs. Kevin Brophy (1/3 inning, one hit and two walks), J.D. Haver (2/3 innings), Schmidt (2 1/3 innings, four hits, four runs) and Brant Rustick (2/3 innings) closed out the game in relief.

Bailey Daniels (0-1) made his first start of the season and lasted just one inning allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits before giving way to Jason Neitz. Neitz worked 3 2/3 innings allowing two hits, walked two and struck out a pair. Junior Chris Powell finished off the bottom of the fifth walking Gabe Cohen and fanning Tim Murphy with runners on first and second. Josh Ruhlman tossed a scoreless 1 2/3 innings giving up just two hits before Shane Mathews came into finish the bottom of the eighth.

Mollenhauer's single up the middle gave the Pirates an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Eldridge continued his hot hitting leading off the game with a double to right field and then moved over to third on a Brooks wild pitch. After Mollenhauer's single, Corey Kemp drew a walk and both runners moved over on Henderson's sacrifice bunt. Brooks settled down and stuck out Jamie Ray and Ryan Wood to close the inning.

UCLA tied the game at one in the bottom half of the first frame on Brandon Crawford's fielder's choice that plated Alden Carrithers, who led off with a single to right and then moved to third on Will Penniall's single to right.

The Bruins tacked on two runs in the bottom of the second inning following four consecutive hits to open the frame. Cohen drilled a single to right field, which was followed by a double by Tim Murphy to score Cohen. Ryan Babineau continued the hitting barrage with a single to left-center which was followed by another single to left-center by Eddie Murray that plated Murphy for a 3-1 lead.

Henderson pulled the Pirates within one, 3-2, in the top of the fourth when he led the inning off with a solo shot to left field off Brooks. Later in the inning sophomore Stephen Batts laced a triple to right field with two outs, but was unable to come home when Broc Sutton flew out to right to end of the inning.

The Pirates will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 21 when they play host to Campbell inside Clark-LeClair Stadium with a 3 p.m. first pitch scheduled.