Kent State exploded for six runs in the decisive seventh inning and held on for a 7-6 win over host East Carolina University in Friday’s start to the 22nd annual Keith LeClair Classic.
The Pirates (3-6) led 4-1 before the Golden Flashes’ outburst that was a combination of offense and mistakes by the Pirates.
ECU will look to get back on the winning track with a game Saturday at 4:30 p.m. against Indiana State. Virginia Tech and Kent State play at noon.
Buccaneer Scoreboard – ECU Baseball falls to Kent State 7-6. Comments from Coach Cliff Godwin coming up. pic.twitter.com/ABvZSisqdB
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) March 1, 2025
Below is a full report from ECU Sports Information. Videos from Pirate Radio’s X account are also included.
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(Above photo from ECU Sports Information)
East Carolina dropped a one-run contest to begin the 22nd annual LeClair Classic Friday evening inside Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium, hitting into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth in a 7-6 setback to Kent State.
🏴☠️⚾️ ECU Baseball scores two in the 7th, now 7-6 Kent State in the top of the 8th inning. pic.twitter.com/ayXz7Ee9Nu
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) March 1, 2025
The Pirates (3-6) continue play Saturday at 4:30 p.m. against Indiana State while Virginia Tech and Kent State match up at Noon.
Caden Leonard collected the win in relief for the Golden Flashes (2-5) as he allowed two runs on one hit with a walk and strikeout in 1.1 frames. Brad Pruett (0-2) was tagged with the loss after surrendering three runs on three hits. Peyton Cariaco locked down the save with 3.0 scoreless innings during which he walked two and struck out three.
🏴☠️⚾️ Now 7-4 Kent State. Jackson DiLorenzo in for ECU Baseball. Still in the 7th inning. pic.twitter.com/skRZ0MApU7
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 28, 2025
Jake Casey and Alejandro Covas drove in three runs apiece for the visitors who racked up 11 hits to ECU’s nine. The top of the Pirate lineup combined for seven base knocks, five runs scored and three RBI while Austin Irby drew a trio of walks.
🏴☠️⚾️ Gabe Beschloss in for Brad Pruett. ECU Baseball now tied with Kent State 4-4 in the 7th inning. pic.twitter.com/NYzSCiuEsn
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 28, 2025
East Carolina starter Ethan Norby cruised through the first three innings before Kent State got on the board in the top of the fourth via a Brody Williams RBI double. Colby Wallace would tie the score in the home half of the frame with a run-scoring double of his own while John Collins cashed in with a one-out sacrifice fly to give the Pirates a 2-1 advantage.
🏴☠️⚾️ Brad Pruett in for Ethan Norby after an excellent 9 strikeout performance by the starter. ECU Baseball leads Kent State 4-1 in the 7th inning. pic.twitter.com/i3JIBezwiG
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 28, 2025
A pair of wild pitches resulted in two runs for ECU in the bottom of the fifth as it stretched the lead to 4-1. However, the Golden Flashes hit a pair of two out three-run home runs in the top of the seventh to build a 7-4 cushion.
🏴☠️⚾️🔥 Ethan Norby just absolutely dealing for ECU Baseball through three innings. pic.twitter.com/JwDbTlDuu0
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 28, 2025
As they did in previous frames, the Pirates answered right back in the bottom of the seventh. Roger Vergara worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on a passed ball before Alex Peltier reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Dixon Williams followed with an infield knock of his own to score Vergara and make it a two-run contest. A subsequent wild pitch allowed Peltier to cross home and slash the East Carolina deficit to 7-6.
🏴☠️⚾️ Dixon Williams brings in more run support and it’s 4-1 ECU Baseball leading Kent State through 5 innings as the sun sets on day one of the Keith LeClair Classic. pic.twitter.com/yReMsHBtjw
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 28, 2025
Jake Hunter did a masterful job to leave three Kent State runners stranded in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for a tense home half of the ninth. Williams and Wallace singled consecutively with one out and Irby drew a walk on a full count to load up the bags. Collins then put a 2-2 offering in play but the visitors turned a 6-4-3 double play to escape with the win.
🏴☠️📸 Game Day Pics by Michels & Gauquie https://t.co/h4axvyu4QS – Pirate Nation enjoying a beautiful afternoon at the Keith LeClair Classic as ECU Baseball takes on Kent State. See all of today’s fan pics here – https://t.co/CEb91w0GPP pic.twitter.com/8klue8Y370
— Pirate Radio ☠️ (@PR927FM) February 28, 2025
- East Carolina and Kent State have now split the only two meetings in the all-time series between the programs.
- The Pirates went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position but 3-for-4 with a runner at third and less than two outs.
- The sides combined to leave 17 runners on base while the Golden Flashes produced seven two-out RBI.
- Walker Barron has reached base safely in all nine games this season. He and Dixon Williams also own current five-game hitting streaks.
- Peltier is 7-for-14 in his last three games, raising his batting average to a team-best .324 among ECU hitters with at least 10 at bats.
For 23🤟 #KeithLeClairClassic pic.twitter.com/c7Dye1ioz7
— ECU Baseball (@ECUBaseball) February 28, 2025