GREENVILLE — East Carolina trailed Appalachian State, 2-0, on Saturday before back-to-back solo home runs by Ben Newton and Connor Norby started a 3-run fifth inning for the Pirates, who went on to take the Keith LeClair Classic with a 5-2 win.
The event that honors the late ECU coach started in 2004. The Pirates claimed the title outright for the 10th time.
Normally, ECU hosts three teams in the LeClair Classic. This year, adjustments due to the pandemic resulted in a revised format and a 3-game series with the Mountaineers.
All of the ECU players and coaches have been wearing sleeveless gold jerseys with LeClair’s No. 23.
Norby went 4-for-5 with a double in addition to his score-tying shot to left center. After Norby’s third homer in four games, Zach Agnos walked and Thomas Francisco singled up the middle.
Agnos came home with the go-ahead run on a single through the right side by Alec Makarewicz.
The Pirates (8-2) added a run in the seventh as Bryson Worrell got caught in a rundown that enabled Makarewicz to score from third for a 4-2 ECU lead.
Agnos brought Newton in with a ground out to third in the eighth.
Jake Kuchmaner started and went four innings in the victory. Gavin Williams (1-0) got the win in relief with four scoreless innings that included no hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
C.J. Mayhue held the Mountaineers (6-4) in check in the ninth for his second save.
The Pirates go for a sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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