Back to back homers in the fifth inning from Eric Tyler and Nick Barber highlighted a three-run fifth inning and the Pirates went on to pick up an 12-7 game three victory over Towson Sunday afternoon in Greenville.
Tyler Smith got his first career win for ECU, Joe Ingle got the save and Michael Adams took the loss for Towson to drop to 1-2 on the season for the Tigers.
With the weekend sweep, the Pirates have now won the last three in a row.
“The kid had no idea that he was going to start until last night after the game. I thought he was tremendous to throw five innings and give up one run,” Cliff Godwin said after the game, “I thought he was awesome and gave us a good solid start and then we could pass it on to the bullpen.”
Bryant Packard went 4 for 4 and he along with Spencer Brickhouse and Eric Tyler all had a pair of RBI in the victory. ECU’s three doubles in the third inning produced three Pirate runs.
"It was a really good series. I didn't get to play the first two games but we all do a good job of taking our mental at bats in the dugout while we're not playing. That makes it easier when you're actually in the game," Packard said, "We have a good defense behind us and the pitching staff is really good so it makes it easier when you're up to the plate."
Godwin talked about Packard's performance on Sunday.
“I challenged Pack a little bit this week and I’m very happy that he had a lot of hits. He swung the bat well but I’m really glad he caught that ball in the eighth inning down the line in left,” said Godwin, “That’s really a difference maker. If that ball lands then I think the whole inning is different.”
Towson(8-10) got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Richard Miller’s single to second brought Mark Grunberg across the plate for a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates scored their first run in the bottom of the second when Nick Barber’s single to right allowed Bryant Packard to tie the game at 1-1.
In the bottom of the third, Spencer Brickhouse, Eric Tyler and Bryant Packard all had doubles that put three more runs on the scoreboard for the Pirates.
The Tigers scored a run in the top of the fifth when Grunberg’s grounder to third brought Richie Palacios across home plate to cut the ECU lead to 4-2.
But in the bottom of the fifth frame, ECU got back to back homers from Spencer Brickhouse and Eric Tyler to extend the lead to 6-3. Then Nick Barber added to the lead when his single allowed Luke Bolka to score.
ECU(17-8) scored again in the bottom of the sixth when Packard’s single brought Bolka across and make the score 8-2, Pirates.
But Towson played small ball in the top of the seventh scoring four runs and then scored another in the eighth on a Martinez double to cut the ECU lead to one at 8-7.
Bryant Packard’s ground rule double over the wall in left center put runners on second and third for the Pirates in the bottom of the eighth.
After Bryce Harman walked to load the bases, Andrew Cassard walked Nick Barber to give the Pirates a two run cushion before a wild pitch brought home another ECU run. Turner Brown’s pop fly brought Nick Barber across to extend the ECU lead to 12-7.
Pirate reliever Joe Ingle came in for the ninth inning and shut the door on Towson to end the game as the Pirates get the three game weekend sweep of the Tigers.
