Feb. 10, 2001

Box Score

Greenville, N.C. - East Carolina scored at least one run in each of its last four innings to pull away for a 6-0 victory over Western Carolina Saturday afternoon at Harrington Field.

Sophomore Jason Tourangeau struck out a career-high nine batters for the 30th-ranked Pirates. Tourangeau (1-0) picked up the victory tossing six innings, while allowing only four baserunners (one hit, one walk and two hit batsmen).

After hitting the game's first batter, Todd Roper, and yielding a single to the game`s second batter, Rod Goldston, Tourangeau settled in and struck out the side to end the first. He retired a string of 13 consecutive batters before hitting his second batter of the game in the fifth inning, but didn`t allow another hit his entire outing.

John Williamson provided ECU (2-0) with all the offense it would need with a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the second.

East Carolina tacked on a single run in the fifth and sixth inning. Jedd Sorenson, who double with one out in the fifth, advanced to third on a single by Warren Gaspar, Jr. and then scored on the play as he collided with WCU catcher Chad Emery at the plate knocking the ball from the grasps of Emery. Gaspar went 4-of-5 with a RBI and two stolen bases on the afternoon.

The Pirates` sixth inning run came courtesy of Cliff Godwin`s bat. Joseph Hastings singled to start the inning and then stole second to move into scoring position. Following a ground out, which moved Hastings to third base, Godwin singled up the middle to plate ECU`s third run of the game.

Leading by three heading into the top half of the seventh inning, Pirates head coach Keith LeClair made a move to the bullpen and brought in sophomore Neal Sears. Sears retired the first eight batters he faced before issuing a base on balls and yielding a two-out single in the ninth. Sears struck out four batters, including the side in eighth, to preserve the Pirate victory and pick up the save.

Bryant Ward gave ECU a 4-0 in the seventh inning, scoring on a wild pitch and then the Pirates pushed home a pair of runs in the eighth.

With two-outs in the frame and Clayton McCullough standing on first, Sorenson reached on a error by the Catamount second baseman to keep the inning alive. Gaspar drove McCullough in with a base hit to center field, advancing Sorenson to third. Sorenson plated ECU`s sixth and final run as he scored on an errant return throw home from the WCU shortstop as Gaspar stole second base.

Jared Burton (0-1) took the loss for the Catamounts, giving up three runs on six hits in five and one-third innings.

NOTES: Todd Roper was forced to leave the game after being hit by a pitch in the first inning. Jeremy Hamrick pinch-ran for Roper and played second the remainder of the game.