Contact: Chris Kilcoyne

Pirates Hand Camels Late Inning Loss 6-3

BUIES CREEK, N.C.-- East Carolina plated three runs in the top of the ninth inning to down Campbell University by a score of 6-3, Tuesday night in Buies Creek.
The Camels jumped on the board in the second inning as Kyle Ellenz drove home Alston Hatch with a two out, double down the right filed corner to give the CU a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates loaded the bases in the with no outs in the second inning and scored when Ryan Norwood singled home Kevin O'Sullivan from third base, pulling ECU even at 1-1. Despite loading the bases, that would be the lone run for the Pirates as CU starter Rob Finch work his way out of the jam by recording three consecutive outs.
ECU took the lead in the fourth inning when Ben Sanderson was hit by a pitch with one out, then moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Paige.
Campbell rallied to tie the game in the home-half of the fifth inning as Ellenz walked to start the inning, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Wiley. Ellenz advanced to third on a fly out by Jeff Blick to right field, and scored on a two out, single up the middle by Sal Deanda.
In the seventh, Ellenz opened the frame with a single and move to third on a base hit to right field by Chris Wiley. Jeff Blick followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, as Ellenz slid under the tag of Pirate catcher John Poppert, to give the Camels the 3-2 lead.
Trailing by a run in the eighth, the Pirates loaded the bases with one out and scored on bases loaded walk by Paige that scored Brian Cavanaugh to tie the game for the third time at 3-3. ECU threatened to take the lead, but Camel reliever Tom Rispoli got an inning ending double play with the bases still loaded.
With the score tied at 3-3 in the top of the ninth, ECU's Adam Witter led off with a single to left field. Ryan Norwood was then hit by a pitch by Rispoli to put runners on first and second. Mark Minicozzi then laid down a bunt that was field off balance by Rispoli and his throw sailed past Deanda was covering first base, allowing Witter to score. Cavanaugh then followed with a shot up the middle that struck Rispoli in the leg and rolled slowly into left field allowing Minicozzi and Norwood to score and give ECU the lead, 6-3.
Paige led the way for the Pirates, going 2-4 with two RBI. Ellenz finished the night 2-2 with an RBI.
Glenn Tucker earned his third win of the season in relief, while Greg Bunn recorded his seventh save on the season. Rispoli suffers the loss his record now stands at 0-2.
Campbell is now 14-22, while the Pirates move to 24-12-1.CU will travel to take on instate rival UNC Wilmington tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., while the Pirates host North Carolina at 7:00 p.m. [Box Score]