Pirates grind out 5-3 extra-inning win over Rice
HOUSTON, TX — It took 11 innings, five pitchers, and one clutch swing from a reliever, but East Carolina came out on top Saturday night with a gritty 5-3 victory over Rice to clinch the series.
Early mistakes put ECU in a hole
Rice got the scoring started in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded and two outs, ECU starter Lance Williams was called for a balk that allowed the first run to score. One batter later, the Owls tacked on another with an RBI infield single, giving them a 2-0 lead out of the gate.
The Owls extended their advantage in the seventh on a sacrifice fly, taking a 3-1 lead into the final few frames.
Pirates claw back in the eighth and ninth
ECU didn’t panic.
In the top of the eighth, Alex Bouche scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to one, then Colby Wallace followed with a clutch RBI double to right-center to tie the game 3-3.
One inning later, Jack Herring came off the bench and delivered in a big way. The pinch hitter ripped an RBI single to center, scoring Kenan Bowman and giving ECU its first lead of the night, 4-3.
Rice responds, but ECU answers in extras
Rice tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, forcing extras. But the Pirates struck again in the top of the 11th — and it started with a surprise contributor.
With two outs and runners on base, Jake Hunter, who had entered in relief, stepped up and delivered a sharp single into right field, moving Bouche into scoring position and keeping the inning alive. That set the table for more chaos.
Bouche would later beat out an infield single to shortstop, and a throwing error allowed Walker Barron to score the go-ahead run. Moments later, Hunter himself crossed the plate on a wild pitch during Braden Burress’s swinging strikeout, giving ECU a 5-3 cushion.
Hunter shuts the door
After helping extend the rally at the plate, Jake Hunter returned to the mound and finished what he started.
The right-hander was electric, tossing 2.2 perfect innings with five strikeouts, no walks, and no hits allowed. His performance earned him the win and capped off a dominant bullpen outing for ECU.
In total, Pirate pitchers allowed just three hits over 11 innings and struck out 12.
Stat leaders
Colby Wallace: 3-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 double, 4 assists at third
Alex Bouche: 2-for-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Jack Herring: Pinch-hit RBI single
Jake Hunter: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 K — also had a two-out single and scored a run
Up next
ECU (17–10) will look to sweep the series Sunday against Rice. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm.