By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — East Carolina smacked eight home runs and ripped 32 hits in a doubleheader sweep of the UAB Blazers in Saturday’s Conference USA action.
In running their winning streak to nine straight, the Pirates (36-13, 11-7) posted wins of 17-1 and 8-7 over the Blazers (19-27, 4-14) at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
The Pirates, who have won 13 straight at home, belted five home runs in the first game, which was shortened to seven innings because of C-USA’s 15-run rule. ECU tacked on three more dingers in the second game, giving the Pirates 12 in the three-game series.
Game 1
East Carolina, sporting camouflage hats in honor of Military Appreciation Day, smacked 18 hits in the 17-1 victory in front of 3,371 fans. Harrison Eldridge hit two homers — the first multi-home run game of his career, while Kemp, Jamie Ray and Ryan Wood also went deep.
ECU starter Justin Bristow (7-2) got the win. The junior, who struck out three and walked five, allowed a run on just two hits in 6 1-3 innings.
Kemp, who had career-bests of four hits and five RBIs, jumped on the first pitch he saw from UAB starter Mitch Kloskowski (5-5), smashing it over the right-field fence for a 2-0 lead. Kemp’s team-leading 14th home run came after Wood had walked in the first inning.
The Pirates put up seven runs on seven hits in the second to grab a commanding 9-0 lead. Wood’s three-run home run, his third dinger of the series, and Ray’s two-run blast were the highlights.
The onslaught continued in the third as ECU tacked on five more runs. Eldridge joined the home run parade with a two-run shot. Kemp continued his torrid hitting with a two-run double, while Ray’s sac fly gave the Pirates a 14-0 lead.
It ballooned to 17-0 after a three-run sixth. Eldridge hit his second dinger of the game and fourth of the season for a 15-0 advantage. Brandon Henderson added an RBI double and Austin Homan a run-scoring single to cap the scoring for the Pirates.
Trent Whitehead, a former Washington Pam Pack star, started in left field for the Pirates. The freshman, who made his 22nd start, injured a finger while trying to get a bunt down in the second inning. Whitehead (0-for-1) was replaced by Trent Ashcraft.
Game 2
The Pirates cranked out 14 hits — three apiece from Eldridge, Ashcraft and Dustin Harrington — in the second game that was played in front of 3,464 fans. ECU had to hang on for an 8-7 win.
Stephen Batts clobbered his seventh home run in the first inning off UAB starter Kyle Roberson (4-6) to give the Pirates a quick 1-0 lead.
UAB shortstop Jonathan Merritt tied the game in the fourth with his sixth home run of the year.
The Pirates recaptured the lead with two runs in the fifth. Harrington led off with a solo shot over the fence in left, his third of the year. Ashcraft doubled and scored on a single by Eldridge to make it 3-1.
Ashcraft’s RBI single in the sixth increased ECU’s lead to 4-1.
Henderson and Ashcraft slapped run-scoring singles in the seventh for a 6-1 advantage.
The Blazers hit a pair of home runs in the eighth to make things interesting. Ryan Keedy hit a three-run shot, his sixth, off reliever Josh Ruhlman. Luke Stewart’s 10th dinger, a solo shot off reliever Seth Simmons, got UAB within 6-5.
Broc Sutton gave the Pirates some breathing room with a solo shot, his third of the year, in the bottom half of the eighth. Homan also drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 8-5.
UAB scored twice in the ninth and had a chance to take the lead, but Sthil Sowers recorded the final out for his first career save.
ECU starter T.J. Hose (5-4) picked up the win. The senior, who struck out six and walked two, allowed a run on five hits in 5 2-3 innings of work.
The Pirates return to action Friday for the start of a three-game C-USA series at home against Tulane.
Game 1
UAB 000 000 1 — 1 3 0
ECU 275 003 x — 17 18 2
WP: Justin Bristow (7-2); LP: Mitch Kloskowski (5-5)
Hitters: UAB — Jonathan Merritt 2-3, Austin Taylor 1-3 (RBI); ECU — Corey Kemp 4-5 (HR, 2 2Bs, 5 RBIs, 4 runs), Harrison Eldridge 3-5 (2 HRs, 2B, 3 RBIs, 3 runs), Jamie Ray 3-3 (HR, 3 RBIs), Brandon Henderson 3-5 (2B, 2 RBIs), Stephen Batts 2-3 (3 runs), Ryan Wood 1-3 (HR, 3 RBIs, 3 runs), Austin Homan 1-1 (RBI), Dustin Harrington 1-4.
Game 2
UAB 000 100 042 — 7 11 1
ECU 100 021 22x — 8 14 0
WP: T.J. Hose (5-4); LP: Kyle Roberson (4-6)
Hitters: UAB — Ryan Keedy 3-5 (HR, 3 RBIs), Brint Hardy 2-4, Jonathan Merritt 1-3 (HR, RBI), Luke Stewart 1-4 (HR, RBI), Billy Lichtner 1-1 (RBI), Phil Bell 1-5 (RBI), Cody McMurry 1-5; ECU — Harrison Eldridge 3-5 (RBI), Dustin Harrington 3-4 (HR, RBI), Trent Ashcraft 3-5 (2B, 2 RBIs), Stephen Batts 2-5 (HR, RBI), Brandon Henderson 1-3 (RBI), Broc Sutton 1-3 (HR, RBI), Kyle Roller 1-4.