The start of the college baseball season got off to a bit of a rocky start for ECU with a 4-3 loss to Xavier on Friday.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
East Carolina baseball battled until the final pitch on Opening Day but came up just short in a 4-3 loss to Xavier Friday afternoon at Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Despite the setback, the Pirates (0-1) kept the game within reach throughout, matching the Musketeers (1-0) inning for inning and putting themselves in position for a late comeback.
Xavier struck first with a two-run homer in the opening frame, but ECU’s pitching staff quickly settled in. Sean Jenkins delivered 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out five and stabilizing the contest while the Pirates worked to chip away offensively. As a staff, ECU combined for 10 strikeouts and limited Xavier to just two runs from innings two through seven, giving the offense opportunities to climb back into the game.
The Pirates broke through in the middle innings, with Braden Burress capitalizing on an overthrow to score an unearned run in the sixth that evened the game at 2-2. ECU showed patience at the plate throughout the afternoon, drawing four walks and being hit by five pitches to consistently pressure Xavier’s pitching staff. Austin Irby led that disciplined approach, finishing 1-for-3 with two walks.
With the score tied entering the eighth, Xavier manufactured two pivotal runs using a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch, small plays that ultimately proved to be the difference.
Still, ECU refused to go quietly. Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Jack Herring ignited the crowd with a towering 361-foot solo home run to deep right field, cutting the deficit to one. The blast extended a notable trend for the program, as ECU has now recorded at least one home run in its season opener or home opener every year since 2023. Herring finished 2-for-5 on the day and was responsible for two of the Pirates’ three runs.
The Pirates continued to apply pressure in the final frame, putting multiple runners on base before Xavier’s bullpen escaped. Karter Muck earned the win with 3.1 innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out three, and Owen Poole secured the save after stranding three runners in the ninth. Joseph Webb ultimately had to eat the loss.
The Pirates stranded 13 runners on base and were unable to deliver a timely two-out hit in several key moments. Two defensive errors also extended innings and added pressure, forcing the Pirates to play from behind for much of the afternoon.
The final two games of the series are scheduled for Saturday, with first pitch set for 12:30 p.m. Due to the forecasted weather on Sunday, the series finale will begin approximately 45 minutes following the conclusion of Game One.