Ray, Kemp homers help Pirates stay alive
Published: Sun, Jun. 01, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Sun, Jun. 01, 2008 02:03AM
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closeCONWAY, S.C. -- The East Carolina baseball team took an early lead behind home runs from Jamie Ray and Corey Kemp and cruised to a 9-0 elimination game win over Columbia on Saturday in the NCAA Conway Regional.
The Pirates will meet Alabama at 1 p.m. today in another elimination game. The Crimson Tide lost to Coastal Carolina 13-10 in Saturday's second game.
Ray belted a two-run shot that gave East Carolina (41-20) a first-inning lead. Two innings later, Kemp came to bat with runners on second and third and hit his team-high 17th home run of the season.
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That was more than enough support for East Carolina starter T.J. Hose, who improved to 7-4 after scattering four hits in a complete-game shutout.
Columbia's Joe Scarlata finished the season with a 5-5 record after giving up six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.
The Pirates finished with 13 hits, more than doubling their output in Friday's 16-3 loss to Alabama. Ray and Kemp combined for six RBIs. Shortstop Dustin Harrington finished 2-for-5 and drove in two runs with a fifth-inning double.
Columbia, which was making its first regional appearance since 1976, finished the season 22-30.
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