RICHMOND — East Carolina downed host Virginia Commonwealth, 12-2, on the run rule in eight innings on Tuesday night in the first matchup of a 2-game midweek series.

The teams meet again at The Diamond on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

ECU (8-8) steadily pulled away after VCU had taken a 1-0 lead in the first on a home run by Sean Swenson.

The Pirates scored twice in the second on an RBI single by Alex Bouche and a Rams error. ECU had six unearned runs.

John Collins belted a 2-run homer to center in the third for a 4-1 lead.

Collins finished with three hits and four RBIs.

Bouche had three hits with a double and drove in a pair of runs.

Dixon Williams had a double and scored twice/

Tyler Brashear (1-0) retired the Rams (4-11) in order in the eighth and was credited with the victory.