The ECU baseball team began its current road trip with a win at UNC Wilmington on Wednesday, winning 5-3.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The East Carolina Pirates had a competitive outing in Wilmington, being able to beat the Seahawks 5-3. ECU was able to find its way on the bases several times, with many timely hits to secure the win.
With two scoreless innings at the start, the Pirates were able to answer in the third inning, with Walker Barron starting the rally for the lineup. Braden Burress was able to follow Barron’s lead, hitting a single and reading off of a miscue by the Seahawks and Barron and Burress were both able to make their way into scoring position. The Pirates were able to read a wild pitch to bring Burress home to open the game for the Pirates. Grady Lenahan then gave ECU insurance, hitting a deep sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Burress.
Ryan Towers is getting his second start for the Pirates, finishing one inning, giving up one hit, and creating an opportunity for his defense to make double plays. Joseph Webb had a productive relief and his longest outing as a Pirate, going over 4.0 innings with five strikeouts, a season high, and the longest outing of the season for the right-hander.
Webb was able to have a productive outing, but the Seahawks were able to string hits together in the sixth to gain a run for UNCW. But, the Pirates brought the momentum back with a strikeout/caught stealing double play executed by Barron and third baseman Colby Wallace. Sean Jenkins came in for the Pirates to finish the inning with only one run, limiting the damage and leaving two other Seahawks on base.
ECU was able to add another run in response to UNCW, with Austin Irby clutching up in the seventh on two outs, with two runners on. Irby was able to make it through the infield, with Burress making it around the bases from second to home, making the run total three for the Pirates.
The Pirates once again find a way. Colby Wallace finds a gap in right field to start another rally to put pressure on the Seahawks. Brayden Bachman, making his fourth appearance as a pinch hitter, was able to hit his first career double to put him and Wallace in scoring position. Walker Barron picked up the call and gave a shallow single to right field to gain another insurance run. Lenahan comes up with bases loaded and is able to hit a deep sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Jeff Sabater.
After a little scare in the bottom of the 9th, the Seahawks were able to string three separate pinch hitters together to make some chaos and score two. Now with the score 5-3, Brett Antolick was able to close out the ninth with two on base and secured the save with his lone strikeout on the day.
The Pirates totaled 11 hits on the day, but although scoring five, they left 10 on base. Wallace and Lenahan both went 2-for-3 on the day, with Lenahan gaining two of the five RBIs. Barron, Irby, and Bachman all charted key hits to create opportunities for the Pirates.
ECU makes its way to Conway from Wilmington to start its three-game series against No. 16 Coastal Carolina.