May 16, 2009

GREENVILLE, N.C. -

Memphis (21-32, 7-16 C-USA)                 000 001 1 -  2  8 1
#20 East Carolina (41-15, 17-7 C-USA)       321 030 3 - 13 14 1

With their backs against the wall, Memphis had no answer for a strong pitching performance by Brad Mincey and a potent East Carolina offense, as it fell to the 20th-ranked Pirates, 13-2 in seven innings, in the series finale at Clark-LeClair Stadium Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Tigers' season comes to an end at 21-32, 7-16 in C-USA play.

Memphis came into the weekend in eighth place in the C-USA standings and a half-game ahead of UCF. But a Thursday night Tiger loss, combined with a UCF win, put the U of M behind the Knights by a half-game. Both teams lost on Friday, setting up a must-win situation for Memphis. Saturday's loss made C-USA history, with Memphis being the first team to miss the league tournament in consecutive years since the realignment in 2005.

Mincey was sharp, giving up one run on five hits and striking out seven in five innings to improve to 9-4 on the year. The Pirates' offense scored in five of the seven innings, including crossing three runs in the first, fifth and seventh innings. ECU clinched a share of the C-USA regular season championship with Rice.

With the Sunday, 10-run rule in effect and the Pirates ahead 11-2, Brandon Henderson ended the ballgame with a two-run walk-off blast to right centerfield for the 13-2 final.

Freshmen Drew Martinez and Jacob Wilson led Memphis with two hits on the day. Wilson's RBI-single in the sixth prevented a shutout. Tyler Huelsing doubled to the right centerfield gap to score Martinez in the seventh. Martinez and Huelsing finish the year hitting .309 and .300, respectively.

With the league's regular-season crown at stake, ECU came hard, with three runs in the first, two in the second and one more in the third for a 6-0 lead. A three-spot in the fifth gave the Tigers an insurmountable nine-run deficit.

Marc Ashley was the losing pitcher. The right-hander worked just one-third of an inning and gave up three runs on two hits. Marcus Barnes struck out four and surrendered three runs in 3.2 innings of relief. Matt Yokley, who finishes his career as Memphis' all-time saves leader, worked an inning and Ryan Fraser finished the contest.