CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — No. 6 North Carolina scored six runs in the sixth and eighth innings to pull away and beat ECU 11-6 in Game 2 of the three-game series on Sunday.
ECU (2-4) led 6-5 after the top of the sixth after Alex Bouche hit a solo home. However, the Tar Heels (6-0) got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for good. UNC then scored four runs in the eighth to pull away.
The two teams play in their final game of the series on Monday at 5 p.m. at Clark-LeClair Stadium in Greenville.
Below is a full report from ECU Sports Information. Videos from Pirate Radio are also included in this report and can also be seen on our X page. Go to the ECU baseball X page for more videos.
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(Top photo of Walker Barron / ECU Sports Information)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – East Carolina and No. 6 North Carolina played another entertaining contest Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels scored six runs over their final three offensive frames to register an 11-6 victory.
ECU (2-4) and UNC (6-0) will reconvene Monday evening inside a sold-out Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium for the series finale which is set for a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Buccaneer Scoreboard – ECU Baseball falls at UNC after giving up 5 unanswered runs in the late innings. Series finale is Monday in Greenville, first pitch at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/ublcaaVJbt
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025
The Pirates notched season highs in both runs (six) and hits (10) but could not quite hold on to a sixth-inning advantage. The Tar Heels finished the game with 13 hits while committing a pair of errors.
🏴☠️⚾️ Colby Wallace slides over from third to the mound with ECU Baseball trailing UNC 8-6 in the 8th inning. pic.twitter.com/v8RzLH9FNt
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025
Hunter Stokely was the offensive hero for North Carolina, going 4-for-5 with a run scored and three RBI. Luke Stevenson also drove in a trio of runs on the strength of two base knocks. Kenan Bowman and Alex Bouche led the Purple and Gold with two hits apiece while Walker Barron logged a pair of RBI via a home run.
🏴☠️⚾️ Gabe Beschloss in for Jake Hunter in the 7th inning. This is Beschloss’ first appearance of his career. ECU Baseball trails UNC 7-6. pic.twitter.com/K6gyFDrLrA
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025
Folger Boaz (1-0) collected his first win of the season in relief, scattering two hits in 3.1 scoreless innings with a walk and three strikeouts. Lance Williams (0-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in 1.1 frames.
🏴☠️⚾️💥 THE WATER BOY ALEX BOUCHE goes yard! ECU Baseball takes a 6-5 lead over UNC in the 6th inning. pic.twitter.com/1Efj0AL1TV
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025
The Tar Heels jumped on top in the bottom of the first when leadoff batter Kane Kepley was hit by a pitch, Alex Madera drew a walk and Stevenson lined a 1-2 offering just over the right field wall to afford the home side a 3-0 lead.
🏴☠️⚾️ Lance Williams in for Jackson DiLorenzo. ECU Baseball holding a 5-4 lead over UNC in the 5th inning. pic.twitter.com/bGvk03gQps
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025
Unfazed, East Carolina answered back in the top of the third. Bouche began the half inning with a double to left before advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring via a Michael Kalinich double off the top of the left field wall. Bowman would then draw the Pirates within 3-2 with a two-out RBI single.
🏴☠️⚾️ Jackson DiLorenzo in for starter Sean Jenkins with ECU Baseball holding a 4-3 lead in the 4th inning. pic.twitter.com/toK04J5FZi
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025
With Colby Wallace on second after getting hit and advancing on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth, Barron worked a 1-1 count and sent the next pitch sailing over the wall in left for a two-run shot that put ECU in front 4-3. Jack Herring extended the Pirate upper hand to 5-3 in the fifth with a sacrifice fly, but North Carolina plated two in the home half of the fifth to knot the score at five.
🏴☠️⚾️💥 WALKER BARRON TWO RUN BOMB! ECU Baseball takes a 4-3 lead over UNC. pic.twitter.com/LqiCwqdBxj
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025
Bouche got off as pretty a swing as you’ll see with one away in the top of the sixth, putting East Carolina back in front by one at 6-5 with a majestic moonshot over the left field fence. The Tar Heels were able to pull away in the final few frames, however, scoring six unanswered to provide the game’s final margin.
🏴☠️⚾️ Keenan Bowman knocks in Kalinich to make it 3-2. Dixon Williams is thrown out at 3rd to end the top of the 3rd. ECU Baseball and UNC battling in a spicy game 2 so far. pic.twitter.com/gKfhj3FDtv
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025
🏴☠️⚾️ Michael Kalinich knocks in Alex Bouche for the Pirates first run. 3-1 UNC over ECU Baseball in the third inning. pic.twitter.com/cjGBYvuKE5
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025
- East Carolina turned in its first clean defensive effort of the season with a zero in the error column.
- The Pirates used eight freshmen in the contest, including the first three hitters in the lineup and four pitchers.
- The teams combined to go a respectable 8-for-20 with runners in scoring position.
- Freshman infielder Austin Irby, who celebrated his 19th birthday Sunday, extended his current hitting streak to five games.
🏴☠️📸 Game Day Pics by Michels & Gauquie – https://t.co/h4axvytx1k – Pirate Nation made the voyage to Chapel Hill in support of ECU Baseball as they take on UNC. See all of the fan pics from this series so far here – https://t.co/ofRs7owhYU pic.twitter.com/4PdvrsCkIM
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 23, 2025