HOUSTON — East Carolina trailed Rice, 3-0, through seven innings before coming back to take the American Athletic Conference series with a 5-3 win in 11 innings on Saturday.

Jake Hunter (2-2) stood out in the comeback, pitching two and two-thirds innings of perfect relief to close the contest. Hunter also got a hit in his first career at-bat in the 11th and scored the final run of the game.

He struck out the side in the 11th to finish with five strikeouts.

The Pirates improved to 17-10 overall and 5-0 in the AAC despite going scoreless until the eighth. Alex Bouche singled with one out, moved to second on a walk to Braden Burress, took third on a fly ball by Dixon Williams and came home on a wild pitch.

Burress scored on a double by Colby Wallace as ECU closed within 3-2.

The tying run in the ninth came after a leadoff single to center by Kenan Bowman. He moved to second when Austin Irby was hit by a pitch. Pinch hitter Jack Herring had an RBI single to tie the score.

Hunter stranded runners at second and third with an inning-ending strikeout in the ninth.

In the 11th, Walker Barron had a single to center with one out. Hunter singled to right with two down. Bouche had an infield single and a throwing error on the play allowed the go-ahead run. Hunter came in on a wild pitch.

Rice (6-22, 1-4 AAC) took a 2-0 lead in the first on a run-scoring balk and an RBI single by Aric Anderson. The Owls added a run in the seventh when Colin Robson scored on a sacrifice foul out by Blaine Brown.

Wallace went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI as ECU outhit the hosts, 10-3. Bouche had two hits.

The Pirates seek a sweep on Sunday at 2 p.m.