CLEARWATER, FL — Josh Livingston was primarily responsible for Wichita State’s 14-4 win over East Carolina in the winners bracket of the American Athletic Conference tournament on Thursday.

Livingston helped the Shockers overcome a 3-1 ECU lead with a 3-run homer in a 7-run sixth inning and a grand slam in the eighth against the pitching-depleted Pirates (41-14), who will face Rice (23-35) in an elimination game on Friday at 1 p.m.

Ryan McCrystal gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the first.

Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman started for ECU but was lifted after two-thirds of an inning and 24 pitches. He is working his way back from an injury. He was charged with Wichita’s first run on an RBI single by Jaden Gustafson.

Dixon Williams homered to right field for a 3-1 Pirates lead in the fourth. Williams and ECU coach Cliff Godwin were thrown out of the game in the seventh.

“They said his spikes were high when he slid,” said Godwin, who did not appear to argue. “I was getting Dixon off the field. I had my back turned.”

Godwin, the AAC Coach of the Year for the fifth time, said he had been suspended and was not sure of his status for Friday.

“We’re going to make some phone calls,” said the Pirates skipper.

ECU used eight pitchers. Chris Kahler (1-1) took the loss.

The Pirates swept a 3-game series from Wichita in Greenville, April 19-20.

The Shockers (31-27) had a 14-9 lead in hits on Thursday.