WICHITA, KS — The third game in the East Carolina-Wichita State series followed the one-sided pattern of the previous two as the Pirates scored five runs in the top of the first inning in an 11-3 win on Saturday.
In a doubleheader on Friday, ECU took a 10-0 victory in the opener before the Shockers prevailed, 12-2, in the nightcap.
The Pirates, ranked No. 10 nationally by Division I baseball, improved to 30-8 overall and 12-3 in the American Athletic Conference going into game four of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
ECU’s fast start began with a single to center by Connor Norby on the first pitch of the game. Thomas Francisco doubled to right on the next pitch. Alec Makarewicz drove in a pair of runs with a one-out single to left and the Pirates led the rest of the way.
Zach Agnos had a 2-run double after Lane Hoover walked and Bryson Worrell’s RBI double gave right-hander Tyler Smith a 5-0 lead before he took the mound.
Smith (2-2) went six innings. He allowed three hits and one run (earned) while walking one with four strikeouts.
Josh Grosz, C.J. Mayhue and Danny Beal provided relief stints.
Makarewicz hit a solo homer in the third, Francisco belted a 2-run shot in the sixth and Ryley Johnson provided the final run with a blast to right in the ninth.
Norby was 3-for-5 as the Pirates had a 12-7 lead in hits. Francisco and Makarewicz each had two hits and three RBIs.
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