March 31, 2002

Final Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- East Carolina third baseman Bryant Ward drove in what proved to be the winning run with a double off the leg of UAB starting pitcher Ross Dobbins as the Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the Blazers with a 6-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Young Memorial Field.

With the game tied at 2-2 in the sixth, ECU second baseman Jedd Sorenson led off with a bunt single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Darryl Lawhorn, and scored on an RBI single by designated hitter Adam Stephens.

After pinch runner Ben Sanderson moved to second on a wild pitch by UAB's Dobbins, Ward slapped a low line drive off Dobbins' right leg that bounced into left field and rolled to a stop on the rain-soaked grass, allowing Sanderson to score from second and Ward to make it easily to second base, giving ECU a 4-2 lead.

East Carolina (19-6-1, 4-4-1 C-USA) added a third run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by catcher Clayton McCullogh that scored Ward

UAB (8-19, 1-8 C-USA) scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, the first coming on an RBI single by first baseman Matt Womble that scored center fielder Chad House, and the second as Womble scored from third on an error by ECU's Lawhorn.

The Pirates answered with two runs of their own in the top of the second as McCullough drove in Ward and Stephens with a one-out double into the right field gap.

UAB added its third run of the game in the sixth inning on an RBI single by House that drove in catcher Justin Miller, making the score 5-3. UAB had the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth, but Neal Sears was brought in to replace reliever Glenn Tucker and struck out UAB designated hitter Kyle Leon to end the threat.

Tucker (2-0) worked one complete inning to get the victory, allowing one run on two hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. Sears worked the final three and 1/3 innings to get his first save of the season, allowing no runs on one hit, with one walk and five strikeouts.

East Carolina added an insurance run as Sorenson led off the top of the eighth inning with a solo home run off Dobbins.

Sears got out of one final jam in the bottom of the ninth. With one out and Blazer runners on first and second base, he struck out pinch hitter Quincy Williams and then got second baseman Seth Rollin to fly out to second to end the game.

East Carolina starter Jason Mandyrk worked four and 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.

UAB's Dobbins (2-2) worked seven complete innings, allowing six runs on eight hits with one walk and one strikeout.

UAB returns to action Tuesday (Apr. 2) at Samford, and travels to Saint Louis for a three-game Conference USA series next weekend.