RALEIGH — Host N.C. State had big innings at the beginning and end of a 12-3 win over East Carolina on Tuesday night.
The Wolfpack (26-13) scored four runs in the bottom of the first after the Pirates (24-18) had taken a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. The hosts added five runs in the eighth with a grand slam from Josh Hood.
ECU left 14 runners on base while State stranded just five.
Cam Clonch had an RBI single in the top of the first before the Pirates left the bases loaded.
The Pack responded with a home run to right center by Devonte Brown on the first pitch from Josh Grosz (2-5) in the bottom of the first.
The hosts went ahead to stay on a sacrifice fly by Hood.
Baker Nelson (2-1) was credited with the win in relief of State starter Garrett Payne, who yielded seven hits in four innings.
ECU closed within 6-2 on a sacrifice fly by Josh Moylan in the third and trimmed the deficit to 6-3 in the sixth on a solo homer by Zach Agnos.
Left-hander C.J. Mayhue was the most effective of six pitchers for the visitors with scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth.
State had a 13-11 edge in hits. Bryson Worrell was 2-for-3 with two walks for the Pirates. Lane Hoover was 2-for-5 with a double in the setback and Jacob Jenkins-Cowart was 2-for-5.
ECU, which lost for the third time in four road games, looks to get back on track at home on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the opener of a 3-game American Athletic Conference series with Cincinnati.
The Pirates, who are 8-4 in league play and tied with Tulane and Central Florida for first, took two of three from the host Bearcats, now 17-21 overall and,7-5 in the AAC, in a series at the start of April.
“State turns back Pirates”?? More like a complete BEAT DOWN! Last time Pirates won in Raleigh, Obama was President – in his FIRST term.
Young team – lot’s of potential – if you watched the game, we hit it pretty well – stranded several runners – losing our ace for the season has not helped. Only gonna get better as I see it.