Score:Â East Carolina 8, VCU 2
Location:Â Greenville, N.C. (Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium)
Records:Â VCU 11-9, East Carolina 13-10
Â
The short story:Â The Pirates used a big third inning to claim the opening contest of a three-game non-conference series.
Â
FIRST PITCH
- Redshirt junior right fielder Logan Amiss went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a walk, and scored both VCU runs.
- Sophomore shortstop Connor Hujsak had a 3-for-4 night with two doubles, a walk and an RBI.
- Redshirt sophomore left-hander Jack Masloff threw a career-high 3.2 innings, striking out a pair without allowing a run.
- ECU's Jake Kuchmaner earned the win with 5.0 innings pitched, scattering seven hits for two runs. Sophomore Campbell Ellis was handed the loss.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A throwing error on a failed pick-off led to an RBI single and an unearned run for East Carolina in the bottom of the first.
- The Pirates exploded for five hits, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a sac bunt to score five runs in the third and extend their lead to 6-0.
- Amiss led off the top of the fourth with a double to right center, then moved to third when graduate catcher Jacob Selden reached on an error. After a walk from redshirt sophomore left fielder Cooper Benzin loaded the bases, freshman Jesse Robinson beat out a pinch-hit infield single to score Amiss from third and cut the lead to 6-1.
- Amiss and Hujsak hit back-to-back two-out doubles in the top of the fifth to make it 6-2.
- Masloff recorded three straight scoreless innings from the fourth through the sixth.
- The Pirates hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the seventh to go up 8-2.
- Graduate right-hander Nolan Wilson struck out the side in the eighth.
- The Rams loaded the bases in the ninth with a hit-by-pitch and a pair of walks, but ECU's Trey Yesavage recorded the save.
Â
NOTABLE
- Amiss leads the Atlantic 10 with 11 doubles this season, and has reached base in every game this year.
- Robinson's hit and RBI were the first of his career.
- Benzin and redshirt sophomore designated hitter Will Carlone extended their hitting streaks to nine and six games, respectively.
Â
UP NEXT
The Rams and Pirates play the second game of the weekend Saturday, March 26 at 4 p.m. in Clark-LeClair Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Â