GREENVILLE — Home runs helped East Carolina defeat Duke, 6-1, in a matchup of nationally-ranked baseball teams on Tuesday at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
The Pirates (4-0) never trailed after Seth Caddell’s solo homer to right in the bottom of the first inning.
Josh Moylan followed suit with a solo shot to right in the second for a 2-0 ECU advantage.
The first of four Pirate runs in the seventh came on an RBI single by Lane Hoover. A 3-run blast to right by Thomas Francisco gave the ECU bullpen a 6-1 lead to protect.
Duke (2-2) got its lone run on an RBI double by Michael Rothenberg in the third.
Cam Colmoire (2-0) was credited with the win in relief. Colmore came in for Carter Spivey in the second inning after the Pirate starter developed a blister on his pitching hand. C.J. Mayhue went the last four and one third innings with six strikeouts for his first save of the season.
“That’s the best he’s ever pitched,” said coach Cliff Godwin of Mayhue. “He’s always had a great fast ball. But tonight he had the slider and change-up. Just special. That was not the plan for him to finish it, but he just made us let him finish it.”
Francisco went 3-for-4 as ECU outhit the Blue Devils, 10-5. Connor Norby and Moylan each had two hits in the nonconference win.
The Pirates start a 3-game series at Georgia Southern on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Leave a Reply