NORFOLK — East Carolina scored five runs in the eighth inning and withstood a five-run ninth by host Old Dominion for a 10-7 nonconference win on Wednesday night.
The 11-ranked Pirates improved to 31-10 while the Monarchs slipped to 24-16.
ECU went ahead to stay on an RBI double by Dusty Baker in the third inning and subsequently added a run in the frame on an ODU error.
Jake Washer had an RBI single in a 2-run fourth and Bryant Packard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Washer had an RBI single in the fifth.
Ryder Giles and Spencer Brickhouse had two-run singles for the Pirates in the eighth. ECU’s final run was scored by Nick Barber on a sacrifice bunt by Turner Brown.
The Monarchs closed the gap from 10-2 to 10-7 in their last at-bat on a grand slam by Andy Garriola and Will Morgan’s second solo homer of the game.
Alec Burleson (4-1) started and went four innings for the win. Garrett Saylor came on with two down in the ninth and got his first save. Gavin Williams pitched three scoreless innings in middle relief.
Lane Hoover was 3-for-4 for the Pirates and Jake Washer was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Each team had 12 hits and committed one error.
ECU starts an American Athletic Conference series at home against Tulane on Friday at 6:30 p.m., weather permitting.
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