BOCA RATON, FL — Florida Atlantic topped No. 12 East Carolina, 6-5, Saturday on a walk-off RBI single by Spencer Rich with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The outcome evened the American Athletic Conference series at 1-1 with the deciding game scheduled for Sunday at noon.
ECU slipped to 22-7 overall and 5-3 in league play as two walks and a hit batter preceded the game winner by Rich.
The Pirates had taken a 5-4 lead with a run in the eighth on consecutive singles by Dixon Williams, Carter Cunningham and Jacob Jenkins-Cowart.
The Owls (17-10, 5-3) tied the score in the bottom of the eighth as Rich led off with a double and moved to third on a bunt before scoring on a wild pitch
ECU got an early 1-0 lead on a run-scoring single by Colby Wallace in the bottom of the first. Rich singled in the third to bring in the tying run.
Dylan LaPointe had a 2-run homer as the hosts scored three times in the fourth for a 4-2 lead.
Justin Wilcoxen got the Pirates within 4-3 with a solo shot in the sixth and Cunningham tied the score later in the frame with a single up the middle that brought in Joey Berini.
ECU outhit FAU, 14-6, but left 11 runners on base. Cunningham went 3-for-5.
Danny Beal (3-2) took the loss in relief of Zach Root, who started and went six and one-third innings.
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