Pirates trip against Houston in CUSA tourney

Published in Sports on May 28, 2004 1:55 PM

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HOUSTON, Texas - Rob Johnson's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted Houston over No. 4 East Carolina 6-5 Thursday night in the second round of the Conference USA Tournament at Cougar Field.

The Pirates will now face TCU at 7:30 p.m. tonight in an elimination game.

Brandon Roznovsky tossed the final inning for the Cougars to pick up the win. Matt Bishop (4-1) suffered the loss allowing three runs in one inning despite striking out three. Jamie Paige, Ryan Jones and Billy Richardson each had two hits to lead the Pirates who finished with 11 total hits. Johnson finished the game 3-for-5 with one RBI.

Houston came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied, 5-5. Kevin Roberts singled to lead off the inning. Johnson set up to bunt the winning-run over. After he laid down the bunt, Bishop threw to second to record the out, but he was called for a balk advancing Roberts to second. John then singled to right center for the game-winning run.

The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on Travis Tully's two-out double. Matt Farrington walked and Jake Stewart was hit by a pitch. Tully drove a 2-2 pitch into right center scoring both runs tying the game at 5-5.

East Carolina loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and scored two runs. Darryl Lawhorn walked to lead off the inning. Mark Minicozzi and Billy Richardson each singled loading the bases. Jamie Paige's bloop single gave ECU a 4-3 lead. Ryan Jones then followed with an infield single between the pitcher and the second baseman scoring Minicozzi to the Pirates ahead, 5-3.

The Pirates retook the lead in the top of the sixth. After Ryan Jones singled up the middle, Trevor Lawhorn hit into a fielder's choice and Jones advanced to third on an error. Drew Costanzo's sacrifice fly brought in Jones tying the game, 2-2. Ryan Norwood singled in Trevor Lawhorn giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Houston tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the sixth when Thanos Papavasilou tripled to lead off the inning. Stewart Musslewhite's sacrifice fly scored Papavasilou.

For the second straight day, the Pirates pushed across a run in the first inning. Jamie Paige led off the game with a double to right center and scored on Trevor Lawhorn's RBI single giving ECU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Houston quickly tied the game in the bottom of the first. Jake Stewart led off the game with a double and moved to third on Travis Tully's single. Cole Bruce hit a sacrifice fly tying the game, 1-1.

Matt Farrington's solo home run with two outs gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second.

East Carolina tried to tie the game up in the top of the fifth. John Poppert doubled down the right field line. Billy Richardson singled through the right side, but Poppert was thrown out at home to end the inning.