GREENVILLE — Florida Atlantic rallied from a pair of 2-run deficits to defeat East Carolina, 8-6, on Sunday and complete an American Athletic Conference sweep at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
The Pirates dropped to 20-13 overall and 6-3 in league play going into a home game with N.C. State (21-11) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The Owls (23-9, 5-4 AAC) have followed a 4-game losing streak with a 4-game winning streak, the latest triumph fueled by a go-ahead solo home run by Brando Leroux in the eighth inning off Sean Jenkins (3-2).
The visitors added a run in the ninth on an RBI single by Leroux.
ECU got one-out singles from Braden Burress and Colby Wallace in the ninth before M.J. Bollinger induced a pop up and a fly out for his seventh save.
Jake Millan had a 2-run homer for the Owls to start the scoring in the top of the second. The Pirates responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame, starting with a solo homer from Braxton Tramel.
Walker Barron and Davon Whitaker each had singles and scored on a hit through the right side by Austin Irby. Alex Bouche was hit by a pitch to move Irby to second. Irby went to third when Dixon Williams hit into a fielder’s choice. Irby came home for a 4-2 Pirates lead on a grounder to short by Burress.
FAU got within 4-3 in the third as Marshall Lipsey walked, moved to third on a single by Patrick Ward and scored on a fielder’s choice by Jake Duer.
Williams homered to right center in the fourth for a 5-3 ECU advantage.
The Owls got a homer from Ayden Garcia in the sixth. Kenan Bowman scored on a sacrifice bunt by Bouche in the bottom of the sixth for a 6-4 Pirates lead.
The Owls tied the score with a pair of unearned runs in the seventh.
“We had four errors,” said ECU coach Cliff Godwin on the Pirate radio network. “That’s why we lost the game.”
ECU outhit the visitors, 12-11, as Burress, Barron and Irby had two hits each.
Brad Pruett made his first start for the Pirates and went five innings. He allowed three hits and three runs (all earned) while walking two and striking out eight.
Carter Holjes (1-1) pitched the seventh for FAU and was credited with the win.
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