GREENVILLE — A 3-run homer by Robbie Petracci in the top of the ninth lifted Old Dominion to an 8-7 win at East Carolina on Wednesday night.
The Pirates (16-14) took a 7-4 lead into the last inning, but the Monarchs (21-6) pulled within 7-5 on an RBI single by Andy Garriola after a leadoff double by Carter Trice.
Matt Coutney singled through the right side before Petracci connected with a 1-2 pitch from Josh Grosz (2-3).
Alec Makarewicz drew a walk to start the bottom of the ninth, but was stranded at second as ODU lefty Noah Dean recorded a pair of game-ending strikeouts for his fifth save.
Jacob Jenkins-Cowart had a 3-run homer in the sixth to give ECU a 6-3 lead.
Zach Agnos was 3-for-5 as the Pirates collected eight hits. Bryson Worrell had a hit and two RBIs.
ECU returns to American Athletic Conference play on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the opener of a 3-game series at home with Wichita State (12-16, 1-2 AAC)..
The Pirates opened their league schedule by taking two of three at Cincinnati last weekend.
Coach yanks guys like it’s going out of style; he must’ve had no arms left, because normally I’d have expected him to pull Grosz after 2 consecutive hits to start the 9th (including an extra bagger and a run), never mind 3 in a row; wow.