CINCINNATI — Four runs in the first inning sent host Cincinnati to a 7-3 win over East Carolina on Friday in the American Athletic Conference opener for both clubs.
The Pirates slipped to 14-13 on the season despite a pair of solo home runs by Alec Makarewicz.
Cincinnati (10-14), which was 1-8 against ECU in 2021, got on the board early with a 2-run double by Cole Harting with one out in the bottom of the first.
Makarewicz homered to left in the second, but the Bearcats got the run back in the bottom of the second on an RBI double by Joe Powell.
A homer by Powell in the fifth gave Cincinnati a 6-1 lead.
Cam Clonch had a single in the eighth that brought in Lane Hoover.
Makarewicz homered to right in the ninth.
Conner Linn (2-0) went six innings for the win. Jake Kuchmaner (3-2) was charged with the loss.
Zach Agnos and Makarewicz each had two hits as ECU outhit the hosts, 8-6.
The Pirates stranded seven baserunners while Cincinnati left four on base. ECU committed two errors. The Bearcats scored two unearned runs.
The second game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m.
…been waiting for the Pirates to get going this season; Cinci has a losing record, as does Bryant, which swept them to start the season.
…thought the LeClair Classic performance was the turnaround moment for the Pirates, but nope. The Carson Whisenhunt matter is obviously a blow, but that doesn’t account for all of the mediocrity.
In the recent analysis of the season to date in this column, you can clearly see Godwin’s frustration, but the question remains whether they’re underperforming, or were they overrated. The bottom line is that the differences between most teams in high level sports is a very thin line, pretty easily crossed due to a variable or two. There’s still time to get it going; hopefully it’ll start with this first conference series.