Western Carolina took the final day of the Keith LeClair Classic on Sunday, beating ECU, 2-0.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
East Carolina Pirates baseball closed out the 2026 Keith LeClair Classic Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 setback to Western Carolina at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Catamounts scored single runs in the third and fourth innings and held off multiple ECU threats, while the Pirates finished the weekend 2-1 to earn a share of the tournament title.
Western Carolina broke through in the third inning on a solo home run before adding an RBI single in the fourth. Despite the two scoring frames, Colby Weber turned in a gritty performance on the mound for ECU. The right-hander tossed 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs while striking out seven. Weber consistently worked out of traffic and kept the Pirates within striking distance. The bullpen followed with 3.2 scoreless innings, as Joseph Webb, Nick Moran and Brett Antolick combined to allow just two hits while striking out five. Moran recorded three strikeouts over two shutout innings, and Antolick struck out a pair in a clean ninth.
Offensively, ECU collected six hits in the finale. Braden Burress and Matthew Lashley each finished 2-for-4 to lead the lineup, accounting for four of the Pirates’ six hits. Lashley’s two-hit effort marked another productive day in what was a strong overall weekend for the shortstop, as he hit .555 overall on the weekend. Jack Herring added a single and a walk, while Austin Irby went 1-for-4. ECU put runners on base in five different innings and went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position, but was unable to deliver the timely hit needed to swing the game.
Over the course of the three-game tournament, several Pirates posted impressive cumulative numbers. Lashley continued his hot stretch at the plate, tallying multiple hits in the finale and producing multi-hit performances, with his first home run as a Pirate, during the weekend to finish among the team leaders in total hits (5). Burress capped the weekend with his two-hit performance Sunday and consistently set the tone at the top of the order, reaching base safely, being able to reach base safely for the 12th game in a row. Herring contributed key RBIs in ECU’s victories earlier in the tournament and reached base multiple times across the three games, while Irby provided steady defense at first base.
On the mound throughout the weekend, ECU’s pitching staff was a major factor in the Pirates’ success. Weber’s seven-strikeout outing Sunday followed strong starting performances earlier in the tournament, and the bullpen proved reliable in high-leverage situations, combining for multiple scoreless appearances and double-digit strikeout totals across the three contests.
Balanced offensive production and consistent pitching depth allowed ECU to finish the weekend 2-1 and claim a share of its 16th LeClair Classic title since the event began in 2004. The annual tournament, named in honor of former Pirate head coach Keith LeClair, once again showcased ECU’s resilience and ability to compete at a championship level as the Pirates continue their 2026 campaign.
The Pirates are now nine days away from their next home contest, with UNC-Wilmington set for midweek on Wednesday. After Wednesday, ECU will travel to No. 9 Coastal Carolina to face the World Series Finalists in a three-game series starting Friday.