The ECU Baseball team got a strong performance from starting pitcher Ethan Norby to open up the Keith LeClair Classic with a victory over Rutgers on Friday.
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Photo credit: (ECU Sports Information)
By ECU Sports Information
The East Carolina Pirates baseball opened play in the Keith LeClair Classic in emphatic fashion Friday night, powering past the Rutgers Scarlet Knights baseball 14-2 at Clark-LeClair Stadium behind an explosive offense and dominant pitching.
The Pirates have been able to win their opening game in the LeClair Classic 19 times out of the 23 years that East Carolina has been hosting since 2004.
East Carolina struck early and often, scoring three runs in the first inning and four more in the second to seize immediate control of the game. Grady Lenahan delivered one of the biggest swings of the night with a two-run home run in the second, while Austin Irby led the Pirates at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with a home run, double and three RBIs. ECU piled up 13 hits, drew six walks and took advantage of four Rutgers errors to keep pressure on throughout the contest.
The Pirates added two runs in the third and fourth innings and three more in the fifth to push the lead into run-rule territory. Contributions came up and down the lineup, including RBIs from Walker Barron and Colby Wallace, while Jack Vogele added a pair of hits and helped spark multiple rallies. ECU also showcased aggressive baserunning, swiping multiple bags and taking extra bases to stay in scoring position.
On the mound, Ethan Norby was outstanding, working 5.2 innings while allowing just two runs—only one earned—on six hits with 10 strikeouts. Norby consistently attacked the zone and stranded runners to keep Rutgers from gaining momentum. Ethan Rose finished the final 1.1 innings in relief to seal the victory.
Rutgers scratched across single runs in the third and sixth innings, with Tristan Salinas driving in a run, but ECU’s early offensive outburst proved too much to overcome.
With the win, East Carolina improved its strong start to the weekend and set the tone for the remainder of the Keith LeClair Classic, with their second game of the weekend being against Troy at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.