GREENVILLE — Leadoff batter Bryant Packard hit his 11th home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the first inning and East Carolina went on to a 9-1 win over Norfolk State at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Pirates used the long ball again in the third inning when a solo homer by Dwanya Williams-Sutton and a two-run shot by Brady Lloyd put No. 10 ECU ahead 5-0.
Lloyd had scored on a sacrifice bunt by Turner Brown in the second.
Williams-Sutton had an RBI double to bring in Nick Barber in the fourth.
The Pirates (34-12) added three runs in the eighth on a two-run double by Bryson Worrell and a run-scoring single by Alec Burleson.
The Spartans (17-26) tallied in the ninth to avoid a shutout.
Jake Kuchmaner (2-0) started and went four innings. He allowed five hits while walking one and striking out three.
Gavin Williams, West Covington, Willy Strong and Cole Beavin also contributed mound stints for ECU.
“The velocity their starter was throwing wasn’t something we are used to seeing, but I thought it was good for Packard, Dwanya and Brady to get us going early with home runs,” said Pirates coach Cliff Godwin. “I thought our guys that came off the bench played well with Bryson getting a two-run, two-out double and Burleson following with an RBI single.
“I also liked the way we pitched tonight and we were able to get some guys work that really haven’t pitched a lot this year.”
Seth Caddell had two hits. Lloyd and Barber each scored two runs. Williams-Sutton, Worrell and Lloyd had two RBIs apiece.
ECU visits UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. start.
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