The ECU baseball team dropped a 9-8 decision to UTSA on Sunday to drop the American Conference series, its first of the season.
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Photo credit (ECU Sports Information)
After a quiet opening frame offensively, East Carolina’s defense set the tone early. With UTSA threatening in the bottom of the first, the Pirates turned a pivotal 6-4-3-2 double play, highlighted by Matt Lashley, Austin Irby and Walker Barron cutting down the go-ahead run at the plate to keep the game scoreless.
UTSA broke through in the second, loading the bases with one out. Sean Jenkins entered in relief of Ethan Rose and limited the damage to just one run, aided by a standout defensive play from Carlos Jacome at second to end the inning.
The Roadrunners added to their lead in the fourth, using a leadoff single and a walk to set the table before an RBI single pushed the advantage to 3-0. Barron later cut down a runner attempting to steal, but another run crossed in the sequence.
East Carolina threatened in the fifth when Colby Wallace doubled to left-center for the Pirates’ first hit of the day. However, the rally was cut short on the basepaths. UTSA responded in the bottom half with a two-run home run to extend its lead to 5-0.
The Pirates began to chip away in the seventh inning. Grady Lenahan and Irby were both hit by pitches, and Wallace followed with a single to load the bases. Davin Whitaker worked a patient at-bat to draw a hit-by-pitch, bringing Lenahan home and cutting the deficit to 5-1.
With two outs, East Carolina ignited a rally that completely shifted the momentum. Pinch hitter Michael Kalinich delivered a clutch two-run single to score Lenahan and Irby. A UTSA miscue allowed Whitaker to come home, while pinch runner Jeff Sabater advanced into scoring position. Lashley then drew a full-count walk to continue the pressure before Braden Burress delivered a game-tying double, bringing Sabater home to knot the score at 5-5.
The Pirates carried that momentum into the eighth. Jack Herring singled to open the inning. Wallace came through again—this time ripping his first triple of the season to give ECU its first lead of the weekend, 6-5.
UTSA answered in the bottom of the ninth. A combination of hits and walks loaded the bases with two outs before a single to right field tied the game at 6-6. Joseph Webb entered and recorded a crucial strikeout with the bases loaded to force extra innings.
After the Pirates were unable to push across a run in the top of the 10th, the Roadrunners capitalized in the bottom half. With the bases loaded and one out, UTSA delivered a walk-off single to right field to secure the 9-8 victory and the series win.
Wallace and Burress each recorded two hits and an RBI to lead the Pirates offensively, while Kalinich provided a key pinch-hit performance with two RBIs.
East Carolina returns home for a four-game homestand, beginning with a midweek matchup against UNCW on Tuesday. The Pirates will then resume American Athletic Conference play by hosting Charlotte in a three-game series from Thursday, April 3, through Saturday, April 5, with the schedule adjusted due to the Easter holiday.