KANNAPOLIS — East Carolina scored three runs in the 10th inning to top Queens, 5-2, on Tuesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark.
Ryan McCrystal started the decisive frame with a single through the left side and Jacob Starling drew a walk. The 12-ranked Pirates (8-3) took a 3-2 lead on a double through the right side by Jacob Jenkins-Cowart.
Ryley Johnson had a 2-run single for the final margin.
The Royals (3-9), who are in a transition process to NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Sun Conference, led 2-0 after two innings.
The Pirates cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth after a leadoff single by Luke Nowak Starling walked and a wild pitch allowed the runners to move up. Nowak scored on a sacrifice fly by Jenkins-Cowart.
Trailing 2-1, ECU got a single from Josh Moylan to start the ninth. Johnson came in to run and he stole second. Carter Cunningham drew a walk with one out.
With two down, Alec Makarewicz singled through the left side to bring in the tying run.
Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman (2-1) didn’t allow a hit over the last three innings and struck out two in picking up the win.
ECU visits Elon (7-5) on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. start.
Irish Spectre says
…hats of to Queens for taking ECU to the wall. I’m glad that the good guys prevailed, but they hardly deserved to, based on those Pride Week unis.