HOUSTON — No. 8 East Carolina evened its American Athletic Conference series at Houston with a 5-4 win on Saturday night.
The Cougars (13-14, 1-1 AAC) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Justin Murray and a run-scoring sacrifice bunt by Ian McMillan.
ECU (20-7, 1-1) evened the score in the fourth on an RBI single by Alec Makarewicz and an ensuing error that resulted in an unearned run.
The Pirates went ahead, 4-2, in the fifth on a 2-run double by Josh Moylan that scored Carter Cunningham and Jacob Jenkins-Cowart, who had each singled with two out.
ECU extended its advantage to 5-2 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Cunningham that brought in Nathan Chrismon, who had reached on a fielder’s choice before stealing second and moving to third on a wild pitch.
McMillan and Malachi Lott had solo homers for Houston in the eighth.
Danny Beal retired the Cougars in order in the ninth for his first save.
Starter Carter Spivey (3-1) got the win, going four and one-third innings. He allowed seven hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out four.
Ryan McCrystal had a pair of doubles in the victory.
The deciding game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. (ESPN+).
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