ECU’s offense came alive down the stretch and helped the Pirates rally for a win over Charlotte on Friday to take the series.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
Clark-LeClair Stadium roared to life Saturday evening as the East Carolina Pirates (19-12-1, 5-3 American) stormed back in dramatic fashion to secure the series against the Charlotte 49ers (18-12, 3-5 American) with a 12-9 victory.
Charlotte struck first in the opening inning, using a leadoff single and a Pirate defensive miscue to push across an unearned run and take an early 1-0 lead. East Carolina wasted no time responding. Braden Burress worked a disciplined leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a flyout before Grady Lenahan laced an RBI double down the left field line to even the score. After Lenahan moved to third on a wild pitch, Colby Wallace executed a squeeze bunt to plate the go-ahead run, giving ECU a 2-1 edge after one.
The 49ers answered immediately in the second, capitalizing on a leadoff walk with a two-run home run from Cale Stricklin to reclaim the lead. Charlotte added another run later in the inning and continued its offensive surge in the third with a three-run homer, extending the advantage to 7-2.
After being held quiet through the middle innings, the Pirates began to chip away in the fifth. Burress drew his second walk of the game and Davin Whitaker followed with a single to set the table. Lenahan’s sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position before Jack Herring drove in a run with a groundout. Wallace added an RBI single, and Jeff Sabater kept the inning alive with a base hit. Pinch hitter Alex Bouche delivered a key two-RBI single, trimming the deficit to 7-5.
Charlotte briefly regained momentum in the sixth with its third home run of the game, a two-run blast that pushed the lead to 9-5, but ECU responded once again. With two outs, Whitaker worked a walk and Lenahan ripped his second triple of the season to bring him home. Herring followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 9-7.
The turning point came in the seventh inning, where East Carolina’s offense erupted with two outs. Walker Barron ignited the rally with a solo home run to left, followed immediately by a game-tying blast from Matthew Lashley. The Pirates kept the pressure on as Burress singled and Whitaker followed with a base hit. Lenahan then delivered an RBI single up the middle, scoring Burress and giving ECU its first lead since the opening inning at 10-9.
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The Pirates added crucial insurance in the eighth. Sabater singled to lead off the frame, setting the stage for Bouche, who launched his first home run of the season—a two-run shot to right field—to extend the lead to 12-9.
On the mound, Ethan Rose provided a key relief outing to earn the win, while Sean Jenkins locked down the final innings to secure the save. The bullpen stabilized the game after Charlotte’s early offensive surge, holding the 49ers scoreless over the final three frames.
Offensively, East Carolina finished with 17 hits, with eight of the nine starters recording at least one hit. Lenahan led the charge with multiple extra-base hits, while Bouche delivered a game-changing performance off the bench with four RBIs. Barron and Lashley’s back-to-back home runs highlighted a relentless Pirate lineup that refused to back down.
With the win, ECU clinched the weekend series and showcased discipline throughout the lineup, looking to sweep Charlotte at home.
First pitch for the series finale is set for 1:00 p.m. EST.