GREENVILLE — East Carolina’s 6-2 win over visiting South Florida and host Houston’s 3-1 loss to Central Florida wrapped up the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship for the Pirates on Sunday.
It is the third straight AAC regular-season title for ECU. The Pirates will be the top seed for the league tournament May 24-29 in Clearwater, FL.
ECU (34-18, 17-4 AAC) went ahead 3-2 in the sixth on Sunday after a ground-rule double by Ben Newton. Jacon Starling put down a bunt that was fielded by the Bulls catcher. A low throw to first got away and Newton scored.
Alec Makarewicz hit a 3-run homer in the eighth to give the Pirates some breathing room.
ECU starter Jake Hunter did not allow a hit through five innings. Pirates coach Cliff Godwin summoned Jake Agnos (2-0) to the mound from shortstop after a single by Jackson Mayo with one away in the sixth.
Hunter allowed one hit and was charged with an earned run while striking out seven without a walk.
Ben Terwilliger held USF scoreless over the last three innings for his second save. All three ECU pitchers yielded one hit each.
The Bulls (26-25, 6-15) tied the score at 2 in the sixth as Marcus Brodil reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Joaquin Monque to score before Nick Gonzalez had an RBI double.
Josh Moylan had an RBI double for the Pirates and another run scored on an error as ECU took a 2-0 lead in the fourth.
The Pirates host Big South Conference leader Campbell (34-15) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+). ECU topped the Camels, 10-3, in Buies Creek on Feb. 22.
Leave a Reply