Sasser suffers first loss for ECU

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on April 1, 2007 2:14 AM

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NEW ORLEANS -- Shooter Hunt scattered five hits over seven innings with nine strikeouts as Tulane handed East Carolina its second straight loss Saturday afternoon 8-2 at Zephyr Field.

Hunt allowed two runs and improved to 6-1 on the year, while the Green Wave improved to 22-7 overall and 5-0 in Conference USA play. Preston Claiborne pitched the final two innings allowing two hit with two punch outs.

Dustin Sasser suffered his first loss of the season after working 42/3 innings where he allowed five runs on eight hits, walked five and fanned two as the Pirates drop to 20-8 and 3-2 in league action.

Dale Mollenhauer put the Pirates on the board in the first when he singled, then stole second base and came home on a pair of errors by catcher Jared Dyer and center fielder Nate Simon for an early 1-0 lead.

Tulane answered in the bottom of the frame plating three runs to take a 3-1 advantage. After Anthony Scelfo grounded into a double-play, Cat Everrett reached on a seeing-eye single to right then moved over to second on a Brad Emaus walk before scoring on Tim Guidry's single to right center for the first Green Wave run. On the same play Emaus advanced to third then scored when Mollenhauer could not handle a throw by catcher Corey Kemp trying to gun down Guidry at second. The Green Wave added another run when Warren McFadden reached on a fielding error by Drew Schieber that pushed across Guidry.

The Green Wave added runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to push their lead to 6-1.

ECU answered with a run in the seventh pulling within four, 6-2. Kemp unloaded on a Hunt fast ball that flew out of the park to left field.

Tulane plated two more runs in the eighth inning capping the scoring at 8-2.

Jake Dean lead the Pirates with two hits, while Harrison Eldridge, Mollenhauer, Ryan Tousley, Kemp and Brandon Henderson.

The two teams will meet for game three this afternoon at 1 p.m.

Also Saturday:

North Carolina 11, Wake Forest 6

CHAPEL HILL -- Kyle Seager's triple drove in runs that sent North Carolina ahead Saturday as the No. 3 Tar Heels rallied to defeat Wake Forest 11-6.

North Carolina (25-4, 8-3 ACC) had given up four runs in the top of the seventh inning, before rallying to score eight times in the bottom of the seventh.

After Seager's triple, Dustin Ackley and Tim Federowicz had RBI base hits and three walks gave the tar Heels the eighth run in the inning. In the eighth inning, Reid Fronk had a two-run homer to cap scoring over the Demon Deacons (14-15, 3-8).

Pitcher Matt Cox had the win and Ben Hunter took the loss. Wake Forest had a 1-0 lead after two innings when Evan Ocheltree singled and scored on an RBI single.

N.C. State 10, Boston College 1

CHESTNUT HILL -- Ryan Pond hit a home run and drove in four more runs Saturday at N.C. State swept Boston College, 10-1, to win its fourth game in a row.

Andrew Brackman pitched seven innings for the Wolfpack (21-8, 7-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), allowing one run on four hits, walking three and striking out seven. The Eagles (7-13-1, 4-7) got their only run from Johnny Ayers, who scored on a steal in the first inning. Nick Asselin, who allowed seven runs on six hits during two innings, took the loss.

Duke 8, Florida St. 5

DURHAM -- Tony Bajoczky struck out four, Alex Hassan drove in three RBIs and Brett Bartles hit two triples and scored twice Saturday as Duke defeated No. 1 Florida State, 8-5. The Blue Devils (20-10, 2-9 ACC) had six runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. Florida State (28-2, 7-1) had home runs from D'Vontrey Richardson and Tommy Oravetz. Michael Hyde had his first loss of the year for the Seminoles after he allowed six runs on seven hits.

Friday's games:

East Carolina 2, Tulane 1

METAIRIE, La. -- Tulane's Sean Morgan struck out 10 in a 62/3-inning start, and closer Daniel Latham pitched the Green Wave out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh as they defeated Conference USA foe East Carolina, 2-1, in the series opener between the two teams Friday at Zephyr Field.

Morgan tied a season high with six walks and gave up four hits, but came up big when he needed it as he worked his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth by striking out the side. Latham picked up his seventh save by striking out the final batter of the seventh, pitching his way around a pair of singles in the eighth and retiring the side in order in the ninth.

With the win, Tulane snapped East Carolina's 14-game winning streak. The Pirates fell to 20-7 on the year and 3-1 in league play.

East Carolina starter T.J. Hose scattered six hits and four walks, while striking out three in six innings.

Mollenhauer and designated hitter Jake Dean had two hits each to lead the Pirates' offensive attack.

North Carolina 3, Wake Forest 1

CHAPEL HILL -- Robert Woodward gave up just two hits over seven innings as North Carolina beat Wake Forest 3-1 on Friday.

Woodward (6-0) struck out six and walked just two players in 71/3 innings. Freshman Dustin Ackley provided the offense, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning to boost the No. 3 Tar Heels.

Wake Forest starter Brad Kledzik (2-2) went 61/3 innings and surrendered three runs on seven hits. Designated hitter Michael Murray provided the Demon Deacon's only run with a solo home run in the fourth inning. The Tar Heels scored in the seventh when a John Horton single brought in Seth Williams. Andrew Carignan struck out the side in the ninth inning to earn his seventh save of the season.

N.C. State 24, Boston College 4

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Mike Roskopf homered twice and had a season-best six RBIs to lead North Carolina State to a 24-4 rout of Boston College on Friday. Roskopf hit a grand slam in the fifth inning and led off the next inning with a solo shot for N.C. State, which has won nine of 11.

Ramon Corona went 3-for-6 and drove in four runs, and Joe Florio added three RBIs for the Wolfpack.

Eric Surkamp (3-1) and Joey Cutler combined on a six-hitter for N.C. State.

Starter Kevin Boggan (2-3) failed to escape the fifth inning for the Eagles.

Duke 8, Florida St. 5

DURHAM -- Tony Bajoczky struck out four, Alex Hassan drove in three RBIs and Brett Bartles hit two triples and scored twice Saturday as Duke defeated No. 1 Florida State, 8-5.

The Blue Devils had six runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead.

Florida State had home runs from D'Vontrey Richardson and Tommy Oravetz. Michael Hyde had his first loss of the year for the Seminoles after he allowed six runs on seven hits.

-- From college releases