ECU began its American Conference series with Tulane on the wrong foot, falling 4-1 on Friday.
Check out Pirate Radio
Website | Facebook | X (formerly Twitter) | Instagram | YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
=====
Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The East Carolina Pirates (21-13-1, 6-4 American) had their five-game win streak broken in New Orleans on Friday evening, falling to the Tulane Green Wave (18-17, 5-5 American) 1-4.
The Pirates were able to start a little early with a baserunner, but were unable to come out on top with a lead. At the top of the first, Braden Burress caught a base due to a muffed throw by the shortstop for the first baserunner of the day. Davin Whitaker also gained a base with a disciplined at bat, forcing a walk on a full-count for two on base. Although having an opportunity in a scoring position, the Pirates leave Burress stranded on third.
The Green Wave was able to take the opportunity of a miscue from the Pirates and turn it into a lead. Tulane was able to move the lead off to third with a deep fly ball and capitalized with a groundout up the middle to gain a lead.
ECU is able to respond in the second. Colby Wallace, extending his hit streak to 10 with a single to right field, was put in scoring position on a groundout. Matt Lashley was able to come up to the plate and play the Tulane shift in his favor, singling to left field to score Wallace. The Pirates are now on the board and tied with the Green Wave.
With the third inning quiet for both teams, Tulane is able to get its first hit on the day, with the hit being a two-run homer deep to right field to put the Green Wave back on top in the fourth.
In the top of the fifth, Michael Kalinich is able to lead off the inning with his first double of the season, having a runner in scoring position. Quickly getting two outs on the inning, including a ground out from Austin Irby to move the runner, Burress was able to reach base again with a walk. Whitaker is making the defense work with a heater to second, but the Green Wave is able to play strong defense to keep Kalinich stranded at the end of the fifth.
Jack Herring garnered the fourth hit of the game for the Pirates in the top of the sixth, extending his on-base streak to 34, tied at 11th all-time longest on-base streak in program history.
Tulane was able to gain more insurance in the sixth. With a single to start the inning, the Green Wave baserunner was able to make it to third with less than two outs. With a deep sacrifice fly to deep right field, Tulane was able to easily gain another run to make the score now 4-1.
In the top of the seventh, Kalinich leads off once again with his second hit on the day, holding two of the Pirates’ five hits so far. Austin Irby is able to force a walk with two outs, but ECU could not get their baserunners home.
With some of the efforts throughout the late innings, the Pirates were not able to gain another run to close the deficit, ultimately falling to Tulane with a final score of 1-4. The Pirates left six on base compared to Tulane, who only left one.
Kalinich led the Pirates on the evening, going two-for-four with a double. Lashley, with his only hit, notched the lone RBI on the day, with Herring, Wallace, and Whitaker all having singles as well.
Despite wearing the loss, Luke Payne had a quality outing for his second career start, going a career high of 5.0 innings with four strikeouts against 18 batters, giving up only one hit, and although giving up three runs, none were earned. Gavin Marley was also able to keep the Green Wave at bay in relief, going 3.0 innings with three strikeouts, giving up no walks and only one run.
The Pirates will be back in action on Saturday, looking toward a win to split the series in two games. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.