GREENVILLE — The absence of Bryant Packard and Spencer Brickhouse, who are recovering from injuries, was less conspicuous Saturday thanks to Alec Burleson.
East Carolina allowed just one run over 18 innings in sweeping a doubleheader from Monmouth.
The No. 9 Pirates followed up a 3-1 win in the first game by downing the Hawks 10-0 in the nightcap.
Burleson (1-0) went seven innings with 10 strikeouts in the opener as Monmouth scored its only run in the third to trim ECU’s lead to 2-1. The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Thomas Francisco. Burleson had a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead in the second.
Jake Washer had a solo homer in the seventh.
Sam Lanier held the Hawks scoreless in the eighth and Evan Voliva pitched the ninth for his first save.
Burleson went 3-for-3 at the plate in the first game in addition to a stellar start on the mound. Freshman Ryder Giles was 2-for-3 and Washer was 2-for-5 as ECU had 10 hits.
Burleson went 3-for-4 in the second game with two doubles and two RBIs. Seth Caddell went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. Lane Hoover and Giles had two hits each.
Jake Agnos (1-0) turned in a seven-inning start, allowing just four hits. He struck out 11. Carter Spivey and Evan Odum each pitched a scoreless inning.
Nick Barber, Burleson, Bryson Worrell and Washer each had RBI doubles in a four-run third.
The Pirates (5-1) host Monmouth (0-5) today at 1 p.m.
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