Pirates blank Seawolves

Published 11:51 am Saturday, March 3, 2012

GREENVILLE — Senior Kevin Brandt tossed eight shutout innings and Corey Thompson drove in the Pirates lone run as No. 30 East Carolina (6-2) posted its second shutout of the season in a 1-0 victory over Stony Brook (4-1) Friday night at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.

In what was expected to be a pitcher’s duel between two of the top career active NCAA wins leaders, Brandt (2-1) and Tyler Johnson (0-1) didn’t disappoint as the duo tossed a combined 15 shutout frames allowing just one run on 10 total hits. Sophomore Drew Reynolds recorded his fourth save in five appearances on the mound for the Pirates tossing a scoreless ninth.

Brandt, who retired nine of the first 10 batters, recorded four punch outs on the day and allowed two walks, but his defense was superb as Thompson made two great plays down the third base line saving potential extra base hits and Philip Clark turned in a outfield double play to end the fourth. Clark made a sliding catch in short right field off the bat of Sal Intagliata before throwing over to Jack Reinheimer at second doubling up Max Tissenbaum to end the frame. The double play was the first of three on the night for the Pirates, who also executed one in the fifth and ninth innings.

The lone run of the night came in the sixth when Thompson sent a long fly ball to left field with the bases loaded pushing across Clark for the game-winning run. With one out, Clark singled back up the middle then took second on Reinheimer’s single through the left side before Bryan Bass loaded the bases with a walk, sending Thompson to the dish.

Johnson was impressive in his second start of the year scattering six hits in a complete game effort where he walked a pair. The right-hander retired 16 of the first 17 batters he faced allowing a single in the fourth before the Pirates strung together a pair of base knocks and a walk in the sixth.

Offensively for the Pirates Clark (2-for-3, run) and Reinheimer (2-for-4) recorded multiple hits, while Thompson and Reynolds each added singles. For the Seawolves, Tissenbaum was the leading hitter going 2-for-4.

ECU and Stony Brook will continue the three-game series Saturday night with a 6 p.m. (ET) first pitch schedule. The game time was moved back from its original 2 p.m. start due to potential severe weather in the area.