Pirates sweep UCF

Published in Sports on May 14, 2007 1:47 PM

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GREENVILLE -- Kyle Roller drove in a career-high six runs and East Carolina swept UCF in its final home Conference USA series.

Roller batted 3-for-4 with a home as the No. 30-ranked Pirates crushed the Knights 13-8 inside Clark-LeClair Stadium on Sunday afternoon. East Carolina (35-17 overall) grabbed sole possession of second place at 13-7 in CUSA play heading into next weekend's season-ending series at UAB.

Josh Ruhlman (5-1) tossed four innings of five-hit, four-strikeout relief behind middle reliever Bailey Daniels, who yielded two runs on three hits in one inning of work. Each pitcher entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs.

Shane Matthews recorded one strikeout in the ninth and collected his CUSA-leading 12th save.

Knights pitcher Eric English fell to 2-4 on the season after allowing eight runs on seven hits in just 21/3 innings. Mitch Herold worked 11/3 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on three hits. Brian Brooks worked the final 41/3 innings allowing one hit and fanning four.

Trailing 2-0, Roller hit his seventh homer -- a three-run shot -- put ECU ahead 3-2. Stephen Batts led off the inning with a single and extended his hitting streak to 18 games -- the fourth longest in school history. A walk and fielder's choice helped set the table for Roller.

Chris Duffy's two-run shot highlighted a three-run fourth inning and pushed the Knights back in front 5-3. East Carolina answered with a five-run inning of its own. The Pirates pounded out five consecutive hits that included RBI contributions from Dean, Batts, Ray, Roller and Corey Kemp.

ECU led 8-5.

Roller and Kemp each supplied a two-RBI single in the fourth as the Pirates boosted their advantage to 13-5. UCF pulled within 13-8, but could get no closer.

The Pirates recorded their third consecutive 11-hit outing. They close out their regular-season home schedule Tuesday against in-state rival Elon University. Game time is 7 p.m.