Sasser helps Pirates stop NCA&T

Published in Sports on February 25, 2004 1:55 PM

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MOC Sports Information

GREENVILLE -- Carter Harrell, Scott Andrews and former Charles B. Aycock's Dustin Sasser combined for East Carolina's third shutout of the season and Mark Minicozzi's sacrifice fly broke a scoreless tie as ECU squeezed by North Carolina A&T 2-0 on Tuesday afternoon at Harrington Field.

Drew Costanzo and Trevor Lawhorn each had two hits to help the Pirates (8-0) stay perfect on the season.

Andrews picked up the win in his first appearance of the season in relief of Harrell. Harrell threw four scoreless innings and struck out five. Andrews pitched 31Ú3 innings and struck out three while allowing only one hit.

Sasser earned his first save of the season and struck out two in 12Ú3 innings.

Lawhorn continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI. He belted his team-best fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth. Costanzo finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and a single.

ECU broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh. After Costanzo doubled and advanced to third on Jake Smith's sacrifice bunt, Minicozzi flied out to right field to bring Costanzo home and give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.

Lawhorn added an insurance run for the Pirates with his solo homer in the bottom of the eighth with two outs.

East Carolina avoided an early scare in the top of the first. North Carolina A&T led off the game with a walk and a single giving the Aggies baserunners with no outs. Jeremy Jones grounded out to third base to move the runners up. Duron Legrande sliced a pitch down the right field line, but it landed just foul. Harrell then struck out Legrande and got Charlie Gamble to ground out to end the inning.

Toby Middleton took the loss for the Aggies despite holding ECU to two earned runs on eight hits in 72Ú3 innings. He struck out four Pirates. Ben Teasley led the Aggies at the plate going 3-for-4.

East Carolina returns to action this weekend when the Pirates host the inaugural Keith LeClair Invitational at Harrington Field. ECU will take on Georgia Southern and Clemson Friday. The Pirates will play the Tigers again Saturday before finishing the Invitational with Georgia Southern Sunday.

Clemson and Georgia Southern will play each other Saturday and Sunday.