GREENVILLE — Central Florida earned a split with No. 9 East Carolina in an American Athletic Conference doubleheader with a 10-5 win in the second game on Friday after the Pirates prevailed, 4-2, in the opener.
The victory by the Knights stopped ECU’s home winning streak at 19 games and halted a string of 10 straight wins by the Pirates.
ECU took its first AAC loss after a 9-0 start in league play.
“It;s a good test for us to see how we respond,” said Pirates coach Cliff Godwin.
The third matchup of the 4-game series is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m.
The day began well for the Pirates as the hosts gave Gavin Williams a 3-0 lead after two innings. Williams (5-0) went six and one-third innings with 10 strikeouts and one walk. He allowed three hits and two runs, both of which were earned
Connor Norby, Zach Agnos and Thomas Francisco each went 3-for-4 in the opener. Norby and Francisco each hit solo homers.
Ben McCabe hit a 3-run homer for UCF (18-20, 7-6 AAC) in the seventh for a 9-3 lead in the second game. Norby led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and scored on a double by Francisco. Alec Makarewicz singled to bring in Francisco.
The Knights ended the threat with a double play after the Pirates (27-6) had loaded the bases with one out in the seventh.
Starter Garrett Saylor (3-1) yielded five earned runs in two and one-third innings.
Norby and Francisco each had two hits in the second game.
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