GREENVILLE — What a difference one night made as top seed East Carolina used its power to eliminate fourth-seeded Quinnipiac from the NCAA regional Sunday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
The Pirates advanced to 1 p.m. game Monday against third-seeded Campbell by defeating the Bobcats, 13-3. Quinnipiac posted a stunning 5-4 win over the hosts on Saturday.
ECU had three home runs in building a 5-1 lead in its second game on Sunday as the Pirates kept their offensive momentum intact after turning back N.C. State 9-2 in the first game of the day.
Jake Washer hit two home runs against Quinnipiac to bring his total for the season to 16.
Washer hit a solo homer to right in the top of the second for a 1-0 lead. Quinnipiac tied the score in the bottom of the second as Kevin Huscher doubled, moved to third on a ground out and came home on a wild pitch.
Bryant Packard and Washer each hit 2-run homers in the top of the third as the Pirates took a 5-1 lead.
Bryson Worrell, who hit a home run right-handed in the loss to the Bobcats on Saturday night, hit a 2-run homer left-handed in the sixth inning on Sunday night for an 8-2 ECU lead.
Turner Brown had a 2-run single as the Pirates added four runs in the seventh to extend the margin to 12-2.
Thomas Francisco had an RBI single for ECU in the top of the ninth.
Ryder Giles (1-0), the second of six pitchers for East Carolina, got the win. Tyler Smith started and threw 76 pitches in three and two-thirds innings.
The Pirates will be the visiting team for the first game Monday, according to NCAA regulations.
ECU coach Cliff Godwin said he will check with his pitchers Monday morning and get an idea of how they feel.
“We’re guaranteed one game,” Godwin said. “We want to win the first pitch.”
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