When the lights come on, the bats heat up for East Carolina.
The Pirates proved just that with a 9-6 win over in-state rival UNC Wilmington at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Tuesday night. ECU’s win was its fourth in the last five games dating back to an 8-6 win over Duke in Durham.
Meanwhile, UNCW’s loss ended a six-game winning streak including a 6-4 win over NC State at home.
After slumping earlier in the season against Rice and North Carolina, the Pirates have surged behind a consistent offense. In the last two games, ECU has outscored its opponents 21-2 and has confidence heading into a massive AAC showdown with Houston at home.
“We’re buying into our approach before every game,” Pirates third baseman Eric Tyler said of the team’s offense. “We’ve had quality at-bats, putting the barrel on the ball and good things are happening. … We’ve played the best of the best and we’re ready for conference play.”
Coming off his first career multi-home run and ECU-record eight-RBI game against Jacksonville on Saturday, Tyler finished 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and one RBI, reaching base in all five at-bats.
Yeah, six hits, four runs and nine RBI over two games is pretty good. Tyler’s average has jumped 39 points from .284 to .323 since over the last two games alone.
“In baseball, you kind of ride a hot streak when you’ve got it,” Tyler said with a smile. “I could go 0 for my next 30 at any time. … I’m just focusing on seeing it and hitting it.”
ECU took an early lead on a three-run third inning sparked by a Bryce Harman single to bring in Tyler for the first run. Dwanya Williams-Sutton and Harman scored later in the inning to take a lead the Pirates would not relinquish.
UNCW punched in a Steven Linkous RBI single in the third to score Robbie Thorburn, but ECU starter Jacob Wolfe was nearly untouchable from that point on. After a rough outing against Jacksonville, Wolfe allowed just two earned runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Expected to be the Sunday starter against No. 15 Houston this weekend, Wolfe finished with 74 pitches against Wilmington. ECU coach Cliff Godwin, a former UNCW assistant, knows how important a win over the Seahawks is for the fan base.
“Any time you can get a win over an in-state rival that really wants to beat you it’s nice,” Godwin said. “Obviously I don’t want any ill-will toward those guys, but I do want to win when we’re playing them.”
The Pirates’ bullpen got in some trouble in the eighth inning with Davis Kirkpatrick allowing three runs on five hits. After an RBI single from Casey Golden, Joe Ingle was brought in for the final five outs to shut the door on the Seahawks late rally. Ingle allowed just one unearned run on an error to earn the save.
UNCW will look to get right against Northeastern in Boston before another midweek in-state battle with Campbell in Buies Creek. The Pirates host a hot Houston club that won the series against ECU last season. This time around, Godwin is excited to exact some revenge at home.
“Houston is going to be one of the best teams we’ve played all year,” Godwin said. “Their pitching staff is one of the best in the country. … We’re just happy they’re coming to Clark-LeClair and we’re not having to go to Houston.”