ECU’s baseball team got a solid performance on the mound from Gavin Van Kempen, but couldn’t get the offense going in a 7-1 loss at Coastal Carolina on Saturday.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
CONWAY, S.C. – East Carolina relied on pitching this Saturday with a career performance from Gavin Van Kempen, with the offense unable to add more than one on the board to gain momentum against No.16 Coastal Carolina.
The Pirates start quickly on Saturday, with Braden Burress going 337 down the left field line to open the game with a home run. The last time a Pirate led off a game with a home run was back in 2024, when Ryley Johnson opened the game with a homer against William & Mary.
After chipping away on both sides with no prevail for four innings, the Chanticleers got the opportunity of a runner on third in the fourth, being able to sacrifice fly a run in to tie the game.
With only seven total hits on the day from ECU and Coastal, but the Chanticleers woke up in the bottom of the eighth, with a three-run home run, to go to a 4-1 score. The bottom of the eighth becomes significant to Coastal, being able to not put just one, but a second home run on the board. Coastal Carolina totaled four hits in the eighth inning as well as six runs with one double in between the homers.
Right-hander Gavin Van Kempen had his second quality start in two weeks. Van Kempen was able to have the outing of his career against Coastal, going seven full innings, only giving up one run with a career high of 11 strikeouts.
Burress has the lone RBI and run, with Matt Lashley, Jack Vogele, Colby Wallace and Walker Barron all tallying the four hits on the day.
First pitch of the final game of the series is set for 1:00 p.m. EST.