Charlotte edges East Carolina, 3-2, takes AAC series

by | Apr 13, 2025

The East Carolina baseball team dropped its sixth straight game as Charlotte held on for a 3-2 win on Saturday.

The win gives Charlotte (21-13, 8-3 AAC) the series win. ECU (20-16, 6-5) will look to pick up a win on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Below is a report from ECU Sports Information.

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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information photo)

By ECUPirates.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – East Carolina had the go-ahead run on base in the ninth Saturday, but a game-ending double play helped Charlotte hold on for a 3-2 win and clinch the teams’ American Athletic Conference series at Hayes Stadium.

The Pirates (20-16, 6-5 AAC) and 49ers (21-13, 8-3 AAC) both registered five hits but a three spot in the bottom of the second held up despite ECU’s late push.

Andrew Kribbs (3-1) earned the win on the mound, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings of work. Justin Taylor covered the final three frames and did not surrender a run to lock down his sixth save of the campaign. Brad Pruett (2-3) took the loss as he was tagged for three runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Ethan Young gave the Pirates a chance in relief, holding Charlotte scoreless and striking out six in 3.2 frames.

Spencer Nolan went 2-for-3 with three RBI in the form of what turned out to be a decisive three-run double in the second. Jack Herring also notched a double in the contest for East Carolina, ending up with two RBI.

The Pirates recorded the first hit of the game in the top of the second courtesy of a Walker Barron single to right, but a diving stop by the 49er second baseman and throw to first ended the half inning.

Charlotte threatened in the home half of the second as a hit by pitch and single through the left side put the home side in business with no outs, Pruett nearly battled back to hold the 49ers off the board, but a Spencer Nolan two-out double to the gap in right center with the bases loaded afforded Charlotte an early 3-0 advantage.

Both starters settled in over the next few innings before ECU finally broke through in the sixth. Consecutive infield singles by Burress and Wallace preceded a walk drawn by Williams to load the bases with no outs. Pinch hitter Jack Herring then delivered a two-run double to the wall in right center to slice the Pirate deficit to one. The 49ers attempted to answer in the bottom half of the frame, but Young was able to strand a pair of runners on base by inducing a lazy fly ball to left.

East Carolina mounted one last rally in the top of the ninth as Michael Kalinich led off with a walk and Austin Irby worked a free pass of his own with one away. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position, but Taylor was able to induce a liner to short that Connor Maryniak snagged and touched second to end the game.

Up Next: ECU and Charlotte conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m.

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