ECU overpowers Memphis in run-rule fashion to wrap up series

by | Mar 23, 2025

The East Carolina baseball team wrapped up a 4-1 week with an AAC sweep of Memphis in run-rule fashion on Sunday. The Pirates won 11-1 in seven innings.

Below is a full report from ECU Sports Information. Videos are from Pirate Radio and ESPN+.

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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information photo)

By ECUPirates.com

After taking a pair of low-scoring contests to begin its American Athletic Conference series with Memphis, East Carolina exploded for an 11-1 seven-inning victory Sunday afternoon to polish off the sweep inside Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The Pirates (15-9, 3-0 AAC) ensured they would exit the weekend in sole possession of first place in the league standings, outhitting the Tigers (11-12, 0-3 AAC) 10-2 while pounding out three home runs.

Freshman Sean Jenkins (2-1) was excellent in relief, collecting his second win of the season by tossing six innings and allowing just one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts. James Smith IV (0-2) was saddled with the loss after surrendering two runs on one hit in 1.2 frames. Jackson DiLorenzo opened the contest with a scoreless inning before Jenkins covered the rest.

Hits were sprinkled all through the ECU lineup as Braden Burress, Braxton Tramel and Alex Bouche all produced two apiece. Tramel added three RBI to his ledger as did Austin Irby who finished 1-for-3. In addition to great defensive play at third, Colby Wallace contributed at the dish as well to the tune of three runs scored and two RBI. Daniel Perez and Cade Greer mustered the only two Memphis base knocks.

After DiLorenzo worked around a fielding error that began the contest to keep things scoreless, the Pirates took advantage of an erratic Smith who hit both Dixon Williams and Wallace before Irby drilled a double into the left center gap to give ECU a 2-0 advantage.

Wallace extended the lead to three with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the third before Tramel connected on a 0-1 offering and smashed it well over the wall in right center to make it 4-0. After the Tigers drew within three via a solo homer in the top of the fifth, the Pirates put the game away in the sixth frame with a five spot. Walker Barron kickstarted the half inning with a single to right and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bouche then laid down a bunt single and Burress worked a one-out walk to load the bases. Williams and Wallace stayed patient, drawing consecutive free passes to extend the East Carolina advantage to 6-1 and Tramel followed with a two-run single to push the margin to seven. Irby then executed a squeeze bunt that plated Wallace to leave the Pirates ahead 9-1 through six complete.

After Bouche singled with one away in the bottom of the seventh, Davin Whitaker stepped in the box as a pinch hitter and sent the ECU faithful home earlier than scheduled with his first career long ball – a two-run blast that rung off the face of the right field line foul pole.

Postgame Notes Graphic

  • East Carolina swept its opening American Athletic Conference series for the first time since defeating Cincinnati four times in Greenville back in 2021.
  • The Pirates have now won 13 straight over Memphis and lead the all-time series 52-19.
  • The run-rule victory was the fifth for ECU this year (Indiana State, VCU, William & Mary twice)
  • East Carolina racked up double-digit hits for the ninth time in 2025.
  • The Pirates converted four of five opportunities with a runner on third and less than two outs.
  • ECU now has four players with double digit on-base streaks – Williams (20), Wallace (13), Burress (12) and Irby (10). Burress also extended his hitting streak to eight games.

Up Next: East Carolina steps out of conference play Tuesday night with a matchup with host Duke at Jack Coombs Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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