ECU takes care of Charlotte in series finale to end losing streak

by | Apr 14, 2025

The East Carolina baseball team ended its six-game losing streak in a big way, beating Charlotte 12-4 on Sunday in the AAC series finale.

Below is more information from ECU Sports Information.

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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information photo)

By ECUPirates.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Walker Barron’s three-run double in the first inning set the tone for Sunday’s American Athletic Conference series finale as East Carolina rolled past Charlotte 12-4 at Hayes Stadium to avoid the sweep.

Barron finished the game with three hits and a career-high five RBI while Colby Wallace was 2-for-5 with three runs scored in the victory. Dawson Bryce paced the 49ers (21-14, 8-4 AAC) with a pair of hits and two runs scored.

Sean Jenkins was excellent in relief, earning a rare six-inning save as he allowed just one run on four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. Lance Williams (1-1) was credited with the win after registering two strikeouts in one inning of work. Sebastian Perez (0-1) was saddled with the loss, surrendering three runs on one hit with two walks and no strikeouts as he recorded just one out.

ECU (21-16, 7-5 AAC) put some early traffic on the paths in the top of the first as Jack Herring drew a one-out walk, Wallace roped a single to right and Dixon Williams worked a free pass of his own. After a Charlotte pitching change, Barron stepped up with two away and split the gap in left center for a bases-clearing double and a 3-0 Pirate lead.

The 49ers answered back in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with no outs thanks to consecutive singles and walk. Spencer Nolan followed with a two-run single back up the middle that sliced the East Carolina lead to one. Jake Hunter prevented further damage by retiring the next three batters in order.

With one swing of the bat in the top of the third frame, John Collins restored the Pirates’ three-run cushion with a two-run blast that cleared the left center wall to make it a 5-2 contest. The 49ers got one back in the home half of the inning via a wild pitch that plated Carson Bayne from third.

Wallace joined in on the long ball fun in the top of the fifth, hammering a one-out solo homer 398 feet over the fence in left to increase the ECU upper hand to 6-3. The Pirates threatened for more in the sixth as Barron led off with a single up the middle before two throwing errors on a bunt put in play by Irby resulted in the runners standing at second and third with no outs. Barron would score on a wild pitch to push the East Carolina lead to four before the half inning came to an end.

The teams traded runs in the eighth as an Irby RBI single scored pinch runner Kenan Bowman from second and Chandler Riley followed suit with an RBI base knock in the bottom half to leave the score at 8-4 headed to the final frame. The Pirates put the game out of reach with a four spot in the ninth, highlighted by Barron’s two-run single with the bases loaded. Jenkins then retired the Charlotte side in order to seal the victory.

Up Next: ECU returns home Tuesday (April 15) for the season series rubber game with UNCW. First pitch inside Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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