April 12, 2003

Box Score

GREENVILLE, NC-- - Ryan Martin blasted a towering two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to extend his season-long hit streak to eight games and junior starter Brandon Rowan struck out seven in a five-hit, one-run gem to propel Memphis to a 8-1 defeat of East Carolina in Game two of the C-USA series at Harrington Field. Rowan's complete game was the first of the year for Memphis.

ECU plated the first run for the second-consecutive game when third baseman Mark Minicozzi reached base and advanced to second on a throwing error by shortstop Brent Dlugach. A wild pitch moved him to third and shortstop Luke Cherry's sacrifice fly to left brought him in for a 1-0 Pirate lead in the second inning.

The Tigers quickly responded by posting a two-run third after Kevin House reached on a fielding error by Cherry. Kyle Scott followed with an RBI double to the right-centerfield fence, scoring K. House from first. Neal Sears' hit leftfielder Chad House and second baseman Michael Lewis in consecutive at-bats to load the bases and Ryan Martin's RBI fielder's choice grounder scored Scott Memphis with a 2-1 lead.

Memphis scored a pair of runs in the fourth to extend its lead to 4-1. Dlugach led the frame off with an infield single and Sledd followed by drawing a walk. Kevin House's fly ball to right advanced Dlugach to third. Scott added a sacrifice fly to right to score Dlugach. The Tigers benefited from a costly Pirate miscue on the play as Sledd attempted to take second on the throw to the plate. However, ECU first baseman Ryan Norwood cut the throw off, but fired wide right of the shortstop allowing Sledd to come around to score to put the U of M ahead 4-1.

The Memphis bats continued to touch up the ECU pitching in the sixth with Dlugach starting the rally with a one-out triple to center. Kevin House drew a two-out walk and Scott came through with a clutch single through the right side to increase the score to 5-1 after Dlugach scored.

ECU made a strong bid to cut the lead in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with just one out. However, Rowan came up big baiting Cherry into a foul popout to Sledd at first before forcing Ben Sanderson into a weak come-backer to end the threat.

With a four-run lead in the seventh, Martin added his fifth round-tripper after a Michael Lewis infield single, giving Memphis a commanding 7-1 advantage.

Memphis loaded the bases in the ninth and tacked on one more run on a RBI single by Kevin House.

Rowan (2-1) struck out a season-high seven to pick up his first league win of the season. Sears took the loss for ECU, allowing four runs on just two hits in four innings of work.

Scott led the Tiger offense with a 3-for-3 effort with three RBI and a run scored. Martin added a 2-for-5 performance with three RBI, while Lewis and Dlugach had two hits apiece.

Memphis looks to win its second straight C-USA series with a win in tomorrow's series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., EST. The game will be broadcasted live locally in Memphis on WUMR 91.7 FM.