ECU’s baseball team will look to keep its season going when it squares off Sunday at noon against VCU in a losers’ bracket game after falling to host North Carolina on Saturday.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The East Carolina Pirates (37-23-1) could not overcome the No. 5 national seed North Carolina Tar Heels (47-11-1) on Saturday evening, falling 7-5 in game four of the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional. With the loss,
East Carolina now turns its attention to an elimination matchup against No. 4 seed VCU at noon ET on Sunday afternoon.
North Carolina threatened early in the opening inning. Pirate starter Luke Payne hit the leadoff batter before settling in with a strikeout, but the Tar Heels quickly loaded the bases with two outs and home run leader Cooper Nicholson at the plate. Payne delivered in the moment, forcing a swinging strikeout to strand all three runners and keep the game scoreless.
Despite UNC’s early pressure, the Pirates struck first in the bottom half of the inning. Grady Lenahan opened the frame with a single through the left side before Davin Whitaker advanced him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Braden Burress followed with an RBI single to plate Lenahan and give ECU a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates continued to apply pressure offensively. Michael Kalinich added a single to move Burress into scoring position, and Jeff Sabater — making his first start since May 14 — ripped a double down the right field line to extend the lead to 2-0.
ECU’s defense continued to shine in the third inning. After UNC put a runner aboard with one out, the Pirates turned their third double play of the regional. Payne recorded his third strikeout of the evening before Walker Barron fired to second to catch Owen Hull stealing and end the inning.
The Pirates added another insurance run in the bottom of the third. Burress drew a walk and Jacob Wallace followed with another free pass before Sabater delivered again, lining a single into shallow left field to score Burress and push the ECU lead to 3-0.
North Carolina answered immediately in the fourth inning when Tar Heel catcher Luke Stevenson launched a three-run homer to straightaway center field, evening the score at 3-3.
The Tar Heels took their first lead of the game in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly before adding to it in the sixth. With runners on first and second, Jake Knapp doubled into right field to bring home another run. Gavin Gallaher followed with a two-run double off the left field wall, extending the UNC advantage to 7-3.
The Pirates made one final push in the seventh inning. Sabater continued his standout performance with a two-RBI triple to cut the deficit to two, but ECU was unable to complete the comeback as North Carolina held on for the 7-5 victory.
Sabater led the Pirates offensively, collecting three hits and driving in four of ECU’s five runs. Burress reached base five times, going 3-for-3 with two walks. Out of the bullpen, Gavin Marley provided a strong outing for the Pirates, tossing a career-high 3.2 innings while allowing just two hits and no runs.