A historic night of offense by the ECU baseball team also came with Parker Byrd’s second career college baseball hit in a 24-3 win over William & Mary on Wednesday.
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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – East Carolina produced one of the most explosive offensive performances in program history Wednesday afternoon, erupting for 24 runs in a dominant 24–3 victory over William & Mary at Plumeri Park.
The 24 runs mark the most scored by the Pirates during head coach Cliff Godwin‘s tenure, surpassing the previous mark of 23 runs set against George Washington in 2023. ECU’s offensive barrage also included 20 hits, the program’s highest hit total in a single game since recording 24 hits against Delaware State in May of 2011.
East Carolina wasted little time getting the offense going, plating a run in the first before breaking the game open with three runs in the second and four more in the third.
The Pirates’ biggest inning came in the fourth, when ECU sent 12 hitters to the plate and scored seven runs to take complete control. Another seven-run fifth inning pushed the margin even further before the Pirates added two more in the sixth.
The offensive production was spread throughout the lineup as nearly every Pirate who stepped to the plate contributed.
Braden Burress led the charge with a tremendous day, going 4-for-5 with four runs scored and three RBI, consistently setting the tone at the top of the lineup. Austin Irby also delivered a huge performance, finishing 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a home run, four RBI and two walks while reaching base five times.
Colby Wallace added to the surge with a 3-for-6 effort, scoring three times and driving in two runs, while Walker Barron was highly efficient at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Matthew Lashley made his hits count as well, recording four RBI, while Grady Lenahan contributed two hits and an RBI. Davin Whitaker chipped in with a two-run hit, and Jeff Sabater added an RBI of his own as ECU continued to pile on throughout the afternoon.
Several Pirates also reached base via walks to keep innings alive. Jack Herring drew four walks and scored a run, helping spark multiple rallies.
One of the most memorable moments of the day came late in the game when Parker Byrd recorded his second career hit, drawing a loud response from the Pirate dugout as ECU’s bench celebrated the milestone.
On the mound, Brett Antolick earned his first win of the season, getting a career high of five strikeouts with three innings of work. The rest of ECU’s pitching staff helped hold William & Mary to three runs on eight hits.
With the win, the Pirates showcased their offensive depth and patience at the plate, producing 24 runs on 20 hits while leaving 10 runners on base in one of the most prolific offensive games in recent program history.
The Pirates head home for their last non-conference series, hosting Pennsylvania starting on March 13. First pitch on Friday evening is set for 6:00 p.m. EST.