GREENVILLE, N.C. – Towson University right hander Kevin Ross kept the East Carolina offense in check, but the No. 25 Pirates were able to get to the Tigers bullpen in an 8-5 victory Saturday afternoon.
 
How it Happened

• Kevin Ross continued his strong start to the season as he allowed only two hits over 5.1 innings. 
• Ross kept the Pirates off the scoreboard through the first 4.2 innings before a bloop single scored a run for ECU. 
• It was the third time in the last four starts that Ross has allowed one run or less.  He did not give up a run over 5.2 innings against Iona last week, and held Wagner off the board over six innings two starts before that.
• The Tigers had the early advantage in the game as they were able to push across two runs with two outs in the third. 
• Tristan Howerton started the inning with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch.  Still standing there with two outs, Richard Miller singled up the middle to score Howerton.  Miller took second on the throw home and then scored on a Logan Burke RBI single through the left side.
• ECU took control of the game in the seventh inning as they collected six hits and pushed across seven runs in the frame to take an 8-2 lead.
• The Tigers got a run back in the eighth inning after Mark Grunberg doubled into the gap in right center.  He came around to score on Miller's groundout to first.
• Towson scored two more runs in the ninth inning as Billy Lennox singled to right center and Colin Dyer followed with a double to left field.  Cuinn Mullins drove in a run with a groundout and Richie Palacios plated Dyer with a sacrifice fly to center field.
• Kyle Stricker (1-1) took the loss after giving up seven runs on seven hits over 1.2 innings.
• Trey Benton (3-0) picked up the victory after allowing two runs on six hits and 10 strikeouts over seven innings.
• Burke led the offense with a pair of hits and an RBI.  Miller drove in two runs and scored another.

 
Up Next
The teams close out the three-game series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.