University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
East Carolina
Baseball Falls At No. 23 East Carolina
03/17/2009 | Baseball
March 17, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Sophomore 1B Mike Mergenthaler launched a two-run homer to tie the game in the third, but No. 23 East Carolina exploded for 13-straight runs to beat the Spiders, 15-4, Tuesday night in Greenville, N.C.
Mergenthaler finished the day with two of Richmond's six hits, improving his average on the season to .426. Junior 3B Cameron Brown, who walked twice and scored, was held without a hit for the first time in 21 games - a steak that extended back to the 2007 season.
The Pirates (12-4) struck for a pair in the bottom of the first, but Richmond (9-4), which had not played since March 12 due to rain, drew even in the third thanks to Mergenthaler's second homer of the season. Brown reached on his second walk of the game and a batter later, Mergenthaler launched his shot over the wall in right center.
But ECU put the pressure on again in bottom of third and an error on a sacrifice bunt brought the go-ahead run home. The Pirates kept their foot on the gas and Brendan Henderson belted a grand slam - his fifth RBI of the game - off reliever Anthony Cafagna for an 8-2 lead and ECU never looked back.
Brown had hit safely in the first 12 games of 2009, had a three-game hitting streak in 2008 before his season was ended by injury and had ended the 2007 campaign on a five-game streak. Although going 0-for-3 versus the Pirates, his average stands at a team-leading .480.
Starting pitcher Ian Marshall was tagged the loss (1-1), while Patrick Somers picked up the win. Marshall was touched up for six runs (five earned) on four hits in two innings of work. Junior Matt Zielinski pitched a scoreless fifth with three striekouts.
Meeting for the first time since the 2001 season, the Pirates increased their lead in the all-time series to 52-42. Richmond and ECU were long-time conference rivals in the Southern, then the CAA.
The Spiders are back in action Wednesday afternoon, hosting Longwood in a 3 p.m. game at Pitt Field.
